CYGNUS NIGRICOLLIS. 125 



lores naked ; bill plumbeous : cere red ; feet pale carneous : whole length 48'0 

 inches, wing 17'5, tail 5-5. Female similar. 



Hab. Argentina, Chili, and Patagonia. 



To my perhaps partial mind this species is preeminent for beauty 

 among the Swans, although it is considerably smaller than the bird of 

 the Old World, and does not, it must be admitted, comport itself so 

 majestically. In questions of this kind it is natural for every one to be 

 somewhat biassed in favour of the things of his own country ; but it will 

 be readily admitted by all, I think, that the black-necked bird is one of 

 three species greatly surpassing all others of this genus iu beauty the 

 other two being, of course, the domesticated Swan of Europe and the 

 Australian Black Swan (perhaps the most graceful bird on the globe). 



This Swan is very abundant on the pampas of Buenos Ayres and 

 in Patagonia, and ranges south to the Magellan Straits and the Falk- 

 lands. As a rule they are seen in small flocks, but sometimes as many 

 as two or three hundred congregate together. They are heavy birds 

 and rise with difficulty, and fly rapidly and with great violence, like all 

 heavy-bodied short-winged species ; but in no other very large bird 

 with which I am acquainted do the wings produce so loud a rushing 

 sound. In quiet places the beating of their wings can be heard 

 distinctly when the birds are no longer in sight, although, owing to 

 their large size, the eye can follow them very far. Gauchos sometimes 

 capture them by suddenly charging down the wind upon them, uttering 

 loud shouts which greatly terrify the birds, and when they attempt to rise 

 with the wind they only flap along the ground and are easily knocked 

 over. A Gaucho of my acquaintance one day caught three out of a 

 flock of six in this way ; but a very strong wind favoured him, and the 

 birds were at some distance from the water, and allowed him to come 

 near before making the sudden charge. As a rule, they are seen on the 

 water, and when on land they keep very close to the margin. 



According to Mr. Gibson, who has observed their breeding- habits, 

 they begin to nest in July just after the winter solstice. The nest is 

 always placed among thick rushes growing in deep water, and the Swan 

 invariably swims to and from her nest. It is built up from the bottom 

 of the swamp, sometimes through four or five feet of water, and rises a 

 foot and a half above the surface. The top of the nest measures about 

 two feet across, with a slight hollow for the eggs, which are cream- 

 coloured and have a smooth glossy shell. The number varies from 

 three to five, and on one occasion six were found. Mr. Gibson has seen 

 the parent bird swimming from the nest with the young on her back. 



Our figure of this species (Plate XVIII.) is taken from the specimen 

 now living in the Zoological Society's Gardens. 



