FAUNA. 243 



some which are peculiar to the country, but these are con- 

 fined to the southern forest districts and arable regions of 

 the country. 



On the northern coast are seen the gossander or dun 

 diver ; the smew or white nun, and other species of 

 messenger merginas a sub-family of the palmipeds ; 

 the dove-kie, or black gullimot ; the eider duck, and tho 

 whistling swan. 



The Cyqnus musicus, or whistling swan, is famous for 

 its migrations. It measures five feet from the tip of the 

 bill to the end of the tail, and eight feet from tip to tip 

 of its extended wings ; the plumage is snow-white, with a 

 slight tinge of orange or yellow on the head. Some of 

 these swans winter in Iceland ; and it is said that in the 

 long Arctic night their song, as they pass in flocks, falls 

 on the ear of the listener like the notes of a violin. It is 

 an old story that the dying swan sings its own dirge. 

 Tennyson sings in reference to this : 



' With an inner voice the river ran, 

 Adown it floated a dying swan, 

 And loudly did lament 

 The wild swan's death-hymn took the soul 

 Of that waste place with joy 

 Hidden in sorrow : at first to the ear 

 The warble was low, and full, and clear ; 

 But anon her jubilant voice, 

 With a music strange and manifold, 

 Flowed forth a carol free and bold 

 And the creeping mosses and clambering weeds, 

 And the willow branches hoar and dank, 

 And the wavy swell of the soughing reeds, 

 And the wave-worn leaves of the echoing bank, 

 And the silvery marish-flowers that throng 

 The desolate creeks and ports among, 

 Were flooded over with eddying song.' 



This is told as what is known of the common domesti- 

 cated swan, which is also found in a wild state, Cygnus, 

 but it is alleged that the wild swan's voice, even in its 

 death hour, has no such musical sweetness as is thus 

 extolled. It is said to be always harsh and dissonant, and 



