WHOOPING SWAN. 



I T can hardly be considered that this Swan is a North 

 American species, as it has never yet been found upon 

 this Continent. Its claim to be included in our avi-fauna 

 is based on the supposition that it is still a visitor to 

 Greenland. The Whooping Swan is a native of the Old 

 World, found throughout the British Islands and the 

 Continent of Europe, going as far south in winter as 

 Egypt and eastward through Asia to Japan. 



It breeds in high northern latitudes in Iceland and 

 Finnish Lapland, and in the vast marshes of the Arctic 

 regions. The nest, which is very large, and said to be 

 occupied by the same bird for a number of years should 

 it survive, is placed on some tussock, and is composed of 

 rushes, grass, and similar materials. Incubation lasts 

 forty-two days, and the number of eggs, which are yel- 

 lowish white, varies from four to seven, the former being 

 the most usual. The young, which are generally hatched 

 in June, are not able to fly until August, and are care- 

 fully guarded by the parents, who protect them from their 

 numerous enemies, becoming the aggressors on slight 

 provocation, and are antagonists not to be despised. It 

 is a handsome bird, though, on account of its shorter 

 neck, not so graceful as the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), 

 so commonly seen on ornamental waters in Europe. It 

 frequently comes upon the land to pull up the grass, 

 which it does in the manner of geese, and it walks easily 

 if not gracefully. 



The Wild Whooper is a very shy bird, and permits 

 nothing of which it is suspicious to approach. It goes in 



