BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 



MUTE SWAN 

 Cygnus olor {J. E. Gmelin) 

 The Mute Swan is a more or less domesticated species in 

 this country, although it is not improbable that in hard winters 

 a few really wild examples visit the British Isles. It is an in- 

 habitant of the Palaearctic region. The adults are white. It 

 may be distinguished from the Hooper Swan by the black pro- 

 tuberance at the base of the upper mandible. The young are 

 uniform greyish brown. Length about 60 in. 



HOOPER SWAN 



Cygnus musicus {Bechstein) 

 This swan is a common winter visitor to our islands. The 

 adults are white. Immatures are ashy brown above, lighter 

 below. Length 60 in. 



BEWICK'S SWAN 



Cygnus bewicki ( Yarrell) 



This species of swan is similar to the Hooper Swan, but 



may be distinguished by its smaller size and the shape of the 



yellow patch on the upper mandible. Length 48 in. It is a 



fairly common autumn and winter visitor to the British Islands. 



LESSER SNOW GOOSE 

 Chen hyperboreus {Pallas) 

 This is a North American species breeding in Arctic 

 regions and wandering south in winter. It is a rare abnormal 



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