224 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



do not think that any of these birds remain to breed in the 

 British Isles, but at the commencement of spring, return to 

 the northern countries of Europe for that purpose. In their 

 migrations they fly, arranged -in the form of a wedge, with 

 great rapidity, and at a great elevation. They are tarned 

 without much difficulty, and breed in captivity. A nest is 

 described by Mr. Hewitson as composed of water-plants, 

 lined with the same, and raised a few inches above the 

 ground, but the nest is also said at other times to be lined 

 with down, and the eggs to be covered with the same. The 

 eggs are of a delicate yellowish or parchment white, and in 

 this respect very distinguishable from those of the Tame 

 Swan, as well as by their smaller size. The bird itself may 

 be distinguished from the Mute Swan by its smaller pro- 

 portions and its less graceful appearance, as well as by the 

 form and colouring of the bill. In the Mute Swan the base 

 of the bill is black, with a protuberance of the same colour ; 

 but in the Wild Swan there is no protuberance, and the 

 base of the bill is of an orange-yellow, the apical portion of 

 the bill being black over a considerable extent of surface. 

 The expanse of the wings in the wild species is about eight 

 feet. 



BEWICK'S SWAN. Cygnus BewicJcii. The memory of 



