174 THE SWANS 



nostrils. (PI. 155.) Length, male 50 in. [1269mm.], female smaller. The plumage is 

 entirely white ; the iris is dark brown, and the legs and toes are black. The juvenile 

 dress is greyish brown, the iris yellow. The young in down greyish white, [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. Although Buturlin (quoted by Dresser) includes the 

 Kola Peninsula and the White Sea in the breeding range of this species, there 

 seems to be but slight evidence as yet in support of this view. Goebel records it 

 in spring from the West Murman coast, but Pleske did not include it in the breeding 

 species of the Kola Peninsula. It does undoubtedly breed in the deltas of the 

 Petschora and other rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean, as well as on Kolguev, 

 possibly on Waigatz, and certainly on Novaya Zemlya. Its range extends eastward 

 along the Arctic shores and islands of Siberia, but from the Lena delta to the Sea 

 of Okhotsk it is replaced by a larger race. On migration it visits the British Isles 

 (especially Ireland) often in considerable numbers, and has occasionally been met 

 with in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Helgoland, France, 

 Spain (once), Italy, the Dalmatian coast and Hungary (once), while it is more 

 frequently met with on the lakes of Finland and the Russian Baltic provinces, 

 wintering in Turkestan and occurring casually on the Caspian. The eastern form 

 apparently migrates through Korea, Manchuria, and Ussuria to the coasts of Japan 

 and China, [r. c. B. J.] 



3. Migration. A winter visitor from the Arctic regions east of the White 

 Sea, usually arriving between 3rd and 30th November, although recorded as early 

 as 10th October (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird Migration, 1912, vol. i. p. 160). The 

 numbers vary greatly with the severity of the season : in hard winters it is not 

 uncommon on the coasts of Yorkshire and North Wales (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 

 1907, p. 429 ; and Forrest, Fauna ofN. Wales, 1907, p. 271), but it is only occasionally 

 recorded from Kent (cf. Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, p. 340). It is more numerous 

 in Scotland, especially on the west coast and in the Outer Hebrides. In Ireland it is 

 a regular and sometimes an abundant visitor to Ulster, Connaught, and parts of 

 Kerry, and an occasional visitor to the remainder of Munster and to Leinster ; 

 it arrives early in December as a rule, and leaves late in February, but it has been 

 recorded early in October and also in March (cf . Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 

 1900, pp. 185-6 ; and Patten, Aquatic Birds of Great Britain and Ireland, 1906, p. 80). 

 For remarks on the relative abundance of the whooper and of this species, see 

 under the former. Gregarious : flocks of thousands are to be seen in Ireland in 

 severe winters. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not breed in the British Isles. [F. c. B. J.] 



