486 THE SWAN. 



are greenish ; the claws long ; the feathers on the upper part 

 of the body blackish, edged with olive colour, and covered with 

 small white stripes. The under part of the body is grey, spotted 

 with white; and the two centre tail feathers are bordered 

 with white. 



Observations. The Water Rail is a solitary bird, inhabiting 

 the bulrushes and sedge on the banks of lakes, rivers, and pools. I 

 never kept one myself, but Lieut. VON SCHAUEOTH writes to me 

 as follows, respecting one formerly in his possession. " It was 

 exceedingly tame. At the slightest gesture from me, it would 

 crouch motionless upon the ground ; but it usually ran about the 

 room, with outstretched head, and with great rapidity. If taken 

 up, it would twist itself out of my hands like an eel. It eat the 

 Nightingales' paste ; but did not seem to like either worms or 

 insects. It bathed many times a day, laying down on its side, as 

 hens do in sand. Its cry may be represented by the word Seek ! 

 dwelt on for a long time ; and it also occasionally uttered a bark- 

 ing sound like a young dog. This handsome bird was caught in a 

 noose, near a warm spring, in winter. When it flew, which was 

 very seldom, it was in perfect silence. It was very restless at 

 night, especially if the moon were bright. It was sociable with 

 other birds ; and was exceedingly friendly with a Starling, which 

 it soon allowed to stroke its feathers. It eats very little." 



Dr. MEYEK of Offenbach has also several of these birds. They 

 eat barley, groats, and milk, and seem particularly fond of millet. 



X. WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



The birds of this order are distinguished by their feet, which 

 are webbed ; that is, have the claws connected by a mem- 

 brane. Some of them never leave the water ; others unite in 

 flocks, both in the water and on land. Many of them may be 

 tamed, but I shall only enumerate six species, which may be 

 kept in the aviary, and can live without water. They are 

 tameable at any age. 



198. THE SWAN. 

 Anas Olor, LIN. Le Cygne, BUF. Der Stumme Scliwan, BECH. 



Description. This, which is commonly called the Tame 

 Swan, I have chosen to denominate the Mute Swan, in order 

 to distinguish it from the Wild or Whistling Swan ; which 

 is smaller, has no nob upon the beak, and carries its neck erect. 

 The latter, which is found wild in almost all parts of Europe, 

 and is very numerous in Siberia, is more commonly tamed in 

 Russia than the species under consideration. If the posssessor 



