"278 NATATORES. CYGNUS. SWAN. 



These birds, so conspicuous amongst the Anatidae by their 

 superior size and graceful appearance upon the water, are 

 distinguished from the Geese by the form of the bill, which 

 is as wide towards the tip as at the base, approaching nearer 

 in shape to that of the Ducks. The neck is also more elon- 

 gated, and the backward position and comparative shortness 

 of the legs, by indicating an increased power of swimming, 

 with a diminished activity in walking on land, brings them 

 into closer connexion with the natatorial tribes of the family. 

 Their food principally consists of the roots, stems, and leaves 

 of aquatic plants ; the former of which they are enabled to 

 reach in water of some depth by their great length of neck. 

 With them the intestines and caeca are very long ; and al- 

 though the trachea does not possess any labyrinth or am- 

 pulla, in some species it performs certain convolutions before 

 it enters the lungs. Their flight, from the full development 

 f)f wing, is strong and rapid. 



WHISTLING SWAN. 

 CYGNUS FERUS, Ray. 

 PLATE XLVII. 



Cygnus ferus, Ran Syn. 136. A Will 272. t. 69 Briss. Orn. 6. 292. 



pi. 28 Steph. Shaw's Zool. 12. 10. pi. 37 Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 126. 



sp. 194. 



Anas Cygnus (ferus), Linn. Syst. 1. 194. 



Anas Cygnus, Gmel Syst. 1. 501 Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 833. sp. 1. 

 Cygne sauvage, Buff. Ois. 9. 3 Id. PL Enl. 913. 

 Cygne a bee jaune, ou sauvage, Temm. Man. 2. 828. 

 Le Cygne a bee noir, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 529. 

 Der Singschwan, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 330 Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 



2. 498. 

 "Wild Swan, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 562. No. 264 Will. (Angl.) 356. t. 69. 



Edw. Glean, t. 150 Rennie's Mont. Ornith. Diet Bewick's Br. Birds, 



ed. 1826. p. t. 265 Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 126. sp. 194. 

 Whistling Swan, Penn. Arct. Zool. 2. 469 Lath. Syn. 6. 433. Id. Sup. 



272. Id. Sup. 2. 341 Lewirfs Br. Birds, 6. pL 236 Mont. Orn. Diet. 



and Sup Shaw's Zool. 12. 10. pi. 37. 



PROVINCIAL Elk, Hooper, Hooping Swan. 



