166 POLISH SWAN. 



and lesser under wing coverts, tail, and tail coverts, pure 

 unsullied white. Legs and toes, pale grey slate-colour; webs, 

 pale grey slate-colour. 



The young of this species are white from the first, and 

 hence the specific name. 



Since the foregoing article was sent to the press, I have 

 received a letter from Arthur Strickland, Esq., in which he 

 informs me that a German naturalist has published a pamphlet, 

 to prove that the so-called Polish Swan is only an albino 

 variety of the common species. I am unable at present, not 

 having seen the work, to do more than record the circum- 

 stance of its publication, but it seems to me, 'as at present 

 advised,' that the fact of the young having been procured 

 in different instances in the white plumage, is sufficient, in 

 connection with the other peculiarities mentioned by Yarrell, 

 to constitute the present a distinct bird. 



