THE WHISTLING SWAN. 36 1 



conveys it within their reach, and they seize it without trouble 

 or fatigue. Their dispositions also are more harmless, and their 

 habits more pacific. Each species congregates through mutual 

 attachment. They never attack their companions, nor destroy 

 other birds; and, in this great and amicable nation, the strong 

 seldom oppresses the weak. 



The bill in this tribe (which comprehends swans and geese, 

 as well as ducks) is strong, broad, flat, and generally furnished 

 at the end with a kind of nail : the edges of the mandibles are 

 marked with sharp serratures. The nostrils are small and oval. 

 The tongue is broad, having the edges fringed near the base. 

 The toes are four in number, three before and one behind ; the 

 middle one is the longest. 



As swans are occasionally met with in this country during 

 winter, (particularly in severe weather) I will just sketch their 

 history. 



THE WHISTLING SWAN. 



The whistling or wild swan is somewhat smaller than the tame 

 species. The bill is three inches long ; yellowish white to the 

 middle, but black at the end. The whole plumage is white, and 

 the legs are black. 



This species is an inhabitant of the northern regions ; nerer 

 appearing in England except in hard winters, when flocks of five 

 or six are now and then seen. Martin says, that in the month 

 of October, swans come in great numbers to Lingev, one of the 



