138 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



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. 



COSCOROBA SWAN 



Coscoroba Candida 



White ; tips of primaries black ; bill coral red, feet red ; length 

 40, wing 17.5 inches. 



THIS Swan is considerably smaller than the black- 

 necked species, and also inferior in beauty on account 

 of its shorter neck. It is, nevertheless, a very hand- 

 some bird, being entirely of a pure white colour 

 except the tips of the primaries, which are black. 

 The beak and legs are bright rosy red. In its habits, 

 language, and flight it also differs much from Cygnus 

 nigricollis, and the country people call it Ganso 

 (Goose), probably on account of its Goose-like habit 

 of sometimes feeding away from the water, or 

 because its flesh has the flavour of Wild Goose. 

 Oddly enough, the scientific ornithologists are just 

 beginning to find out that the common people were 

 right in describing it as a Goose ; at all events they 

 are finding out that it has more Goose than Swan in 

 its composition. As a rule they go in small parties 

 of five or six individuals, but sometimes flocks num- 



