268 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE WILD SWAN. 



ELK, HOOPER, OR WHISTLING SWAN. 



(Cy gnus ferns, Flem. Cygne a bcc jaune on 

 Temm.) 



THE Wild Swan measures five feet in length,. 

 above seven in breadth, and weighs from thirteen 

 to sixteen pounds. The bill is four inches long 

 from the tip to the brow, of a yellowish white 

 from the base to the middle, and thence to the 

 tip, black : the bare space from the bill over the 

 eye and eye-lids is yellow : the whole plumage 

 in adult birds is of a pure white, and, next to the 

 skin, they are cloathed with a thick fine down : 

 the legs are black. 



