THE SWANS 



[ORDER : Anseriformes. SUBORDER : Anseres. FAMILY : Anatidce. 



SUBFAMILY : Cygnince] 



PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



[F. C. R. JOURDAIN. W. P. PYCRAFT. A. L. THOMSON] 



W^HOOPER [Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus); Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. Wild 

 swan (generic), elk, whistling-swan. French, cygne sauvage ; German, 

 Sing-Schwan ; Italian, cigno selvatico]. 



1. Description. The adult whooper may always be distinguished by its 

 large size and the light lemon-yellow colour of the basal half of the beak, the re- 

 mainder of which is black. The sexes are alike, and there is no seasonal change of 

 coloration. (PL 155.) Length, male 60 in. [1524mm.]. The plumage is entirely white; 

 the yellow of the base of the beak is continued backward as a narrow band of bare 

 skin to the eye. The iris is dark brown, and the legs and toes are black. The head 

 and neck have occasionally an ochreous tinge ; more rarely this is intensified and 

 assumes a dark copper hue. The juvenile dress is of an ash-brown colour, the under 

 parts paler, while the beak is of a dull flesh colour, tipped and margined with black, 

 and enclosing a central area of orange-yellow ; lores greenish white ; the legs are also 

 flesh coloured. The completely white dress is not assumed till the third year. 

 Young in down white, [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. Up to the end of the eighteenth century this fine bird bred 

 at the lochs of Harray and Stenness in the Orkney group, but since that time it has 

 only been known as a winter visitor to our islands. Its breeding haunts include 

 Iceland, Finmark in North Norway, and it is said in the Saltdal (lat. 67 N.), in 

 Sweden, North Finland, Lapland, and in Russia not only on the lower Dwina 

 and Petschora, but also, according to Mr. Buturlin, hi several of the eastern 

 governments, south to the Sea of Azof? and the shores of the Caspian. In Asia it is 



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