408 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



considerably beyond (the beginnings) the openings of the 

 nostrils. The term ' openings of the nostrils ' is too vague, 

 and hence, possibly, the mistake in colouring from a 

 description and an uncoloured plate. The yellow comes 

 altogether past the whole of the opening, but in the bills 

 we have procured the yellow only comes to the upper 

 (or ending) of the openings of the nostrils, or, in other 

 words, there is a great deal more black upon our speci- 

 mens than upon the coloured copy of Yarrell's plate. 



The following are the measurements of the present 

 undoubted specimen of Bewick's Swan : 



The bill of Bewick's Swan is considerably more than 

 half an inch shorter than that of the Whooper Swan. 



The measurements of our Bewick's Swan nearly agree 

 with those given by Yarrell. 



Our two identified eggs of Bewick's Swan measure 

 Length 3'9 inches, breadth 2'7 inches ; and the largest 

 egg we have of Swans obtained here measure 4*5 inches 

 in length and close upon 3 inches (or 2'9 inches) in 

 breadth. The smallest unidentified Swan's eggs we have 

 measure 4'1 inches in length and 2 '8 inches in breadth, 

 and these eggs may belong either to Bewick's or to the 

 Whooper Swan (?). 



We consider that the chain of evidence connected with 

 these eggs and bird is perfectly clear. 



A couple of fishermen were occupied in their calling 12 

 versts beyond Stanavoialachta at an island called Pion-ni, 

 and whilst there they found a Swan's nest containing two 

 eggs, and afterwards succeeded in trapping the bird or 

 securing it with a noose. There are no shot-marks in the 

 skin, and it has evidently been stabbed in the neck with 

 a knife. 



In the division of the spoil the eggs fell to the one 

 peasant and the skin to the other. 



The one brought the eggs to Alexievka, where he landed 



