228 AVES NATATORES. [CYGNUS. 



number retire to the Arctic Regions at the approach of Spring. Builds 

 on the ground near water, and lays from five to seven eggs. Has 

 a loud harsh note. Food, aquatic plants and insects. 



233. C. Bewickii, Yarr. (Bewick's Swan.) Bill black ; 

 the base orange-yellow : plumage white : tail of eighteen 

 feathers. 



C. Bewickii, Yarrell in Linn. Trans, vol. xvi. p. 445. Selby in 

 Newcastle Nat. Hist. Trans, vol. i. p. 17. Faun. Bor. Amer. 

 partii. p. 465. Bewick's Swan, Selb. Illust. vol. n. p. 284. pi. 47*. 

 (Trachea,) Linn. Trans, vol. xvi. pis. 24, & 25. 



DIMENS. Entire length three feet nine inches : length of the bill (to 

 the forehead) three inches six lines, (to the eye) four inches four lines 

 and a half; of the tarsus three inches nine lines ; of the middle toe five 

 inches three lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing twenty inches 

 six lines : breadth, wings extended, six feet one inch. YARR. 



DESCRIPT. Closely resembling the last species, but one third smaller. 

 The whole plumage pure white, tinged, in immature specimens, on the 

 crown, nape, and belly, with reddish orange : bill black ; the cere at the 

 base and sides orange-yellow ; but no part of this last colour advancing 

 beyond the nostrils, (as in the C. ferns') : irides orange-yellow : legs 

 black: tail cuneiform, of only eighteen feathers*. The young are gray, 

 and the adult plumage is not perfected till the third or fourth year. 

 (Egg.) Brownish white, slightly clouded with a darker tint : long. diam. 

 three inches seven lines ; trans, diam. two inches six lines. 



Like the last, a winter visitant. First distinguished as a peculiar 

 species by Mr Yarrell, and, about the same time, by Mr Richard Win- 

 gate of Newcastle. Breeds in the Arctic Regions. Said to possess a 

 weaker voice than that of the C.ferus. Habits similar. 



*234. C. Olor, Steph. (Mute Swan.) Bill red; the edges of the 

 mandibles, nail, and a protuberance at the base, black : plumage white : 

 tail of twenty-four feathers. 



C. Olor, Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. xn. part ii. p. 15. pi. 38. Anas 

 Olor, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 830. Mute Swan, Lewin, Brit. Birds, 

 vol. vn. pi. 237. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 270. 



DIMENS. Entire length five feet or upwards. 



DESCRIPT. The whole plumage, without exception, pure white : bill red ; the 

 edges of the mandibles, nail at the tip, nostrils, and a large protuberance on the 

 forehead, as well as the space round the eyes, deep black: irides brown: legs 

 black; sometimes tinged with reddish. The female is smaller, with the frontal 

 protuberance not so much developed. The young of the year are ash -brown, with 

 the bill and legs dusky gray. In the second year the bill assumes a yellowish tint, 

 and white feathers appear intermixed with the gray ones. In the third year, the 

 plumage is perfected. (Egg*) Dull greenish white: long. diam. four inches', 

 trans, diam. two inches nine lines. 



Well known in a domesticated or half-reclaimed state on many of our rivers and 

 artificial pieces of water. Found wild in the eastern parts of Europe. Makes a 

 nest amongst aquatic herbage in February or March, and lays from six to eight 

 eggs. Food, aquatic vegetables and insects ; occasionally small fish. Is destitute 

 of the shrill voice which distinguishes the two preceding species. 



* According to Mr Thompson there are twenty tail-feathers. See Lend. $ Edinb. Phil. Mag, 

 Oct. 1834. p. 299. 



