THE HOOPER, OR WHISTLING SWAN. 



357 



seen, in the autumn, about Vera Cruz, where they are sola with other 

 game in the market. Their visits in England and Germany are equally 

 rare as in the United States, and they have been known sometimes to 

 stray into Switzerland, having been shot on the lake of Geneva. 



SWIMMERS. 



IN the Anserts, or Swimmers, the bill is smooth, obtuse at the point, 

 and covered with a membranaeeous skin. The legs are short and 

 compressed ; and the feet formed for swimming, the toes being con- 

 nected by a membrane. 



OF THE DUCK TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



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 

 eerratures. 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. 



THE HOOPER OR WHISTLING SWAN 



The Whistling Swan is somewhat smaller than the tame speciaa 

 The bill is three 

 inches long ; yel- 

 lowish 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 ; 

 never appearing in 

 England, except in 

 hard winters, when 

 flocks of five or six 

 are now and then 

 seen. 



In Iceland these 

 birds are an object 

 of chase. In the 

 month of August they lose their feathers to such a degree, as not to 

 be able to fly. The natives, at that season, resort in great numbers to 

 the places where they most abound ; and are accompanied with dogs ; 

 and active and strong horses, trained to the sport, and capable of 



00*Ml, OR WHISTLING SWAX. 



