SWANS. 405 



sides to beyond the nostrils, then black ; no knob at the 



root of the beak, as in the nest ; the lamella in the beak 



not visible when it is closed ; length 4 ft. 9 in. ; weight 



22 to 26 Ib. ; head, neck, and beak 2 ft. 5 in. ; beak 



from forehead 4 in. 4 1. j tail rounded, with twenty 



feathers, 3J in. longer than wings; tarsus 4 in. 6 1. 



Is only seen in the southern and midland districts during 



the periods of migration. Breeds up in Lapland, generally 



in the retired fell lakes. Eggs seven, brown-yellow, rather 



shorter and thicker than those of the common swan. 



Many wild as well as tame swans remain in the Sound, 

 off the southern coast of Sweden during mild winters ; but 

 none of them or geese are seen off the north coast of 

 Finland at this season. 



248. C. MINOR, Keys and Bias. Mindre Sang Svan. 



Bewick's Swan. D. 



Beak black, at the root yellow, which colour, how- 

 ever, does not extend to the nostrils, same length as the . 

 head ; tail feathers eighteen to twenty ; colour as in last ; 

 length never exceeding 4 ft. ; the principal difference, 

 however, is found, upon dissection, between the shapes 

 of the windpipes of the two species. 

 Has been once killed in Norway and once in Denmark, 

 and probably overlooked in Sweden. 



249. C. OLOR, Veill. Tarn Svan. The Mute Swan. D. F. 



The forehead furnished with a horny knob, which, as 

 well as the tract between the eyes and beak, and the 

 oblong nail at the end of the beak, are black, rest of 

 the beak yellow-red ; tail sharp, about the same size as 

 the last, but the body is not so thick or heavy ; legs 

 black in all the swans. 



That the tame swan breeds in a wild state in some places 

 on the south-east coast of Sweden is pretty certain, but it 

 does not appear to be met with in Lapland or Norway. It 

 has always been a mystery to me where the large flocks of 

 these swans come from, which assemble after the breeding 

 season on the southern coasts of Sweden, and furnish game 



