1.90 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



Bennett justly observes, there is nothing of the knob-Hke 

 elevation in front, seen in this ; " on the other hand, 

 the enlargement of the cere beneath the lower mandible 

 appears to be nearly similar: but in the living bird it bears 

 no resemblance to a wattle ; and consequently the names 

 of barbillon and carunculata, given to M. Temminck's 

 species, are totally inapplicable to this." This species 

 is said to have been brought to England from the coun- 

 try bordering the east of Peru and the western confines 

 of Brazil. 



The Wild Swan. 

 Cygnus ferus, Ray. 



Entirely white, without any protuberance at the base of 

 the bill : cere pale yellow, encircling the eye. 



Cygnus ferus, Ray. Syn. 136. a. Selby, 278. Cygne a bee 

 noir, Temm.Man. ii. 828. PI Enl 913. 



There is so little external difference between the wild 

 and the domestic swan, that ordinary observers, not 

 accustomed to understand the value that often attaches 

 to slight scientific distinctions, would almost suppose 

 they were the same ; and indeed, when such men as 

 Linnaeus and BufFon have fallen into the error of 

 regarding these two species as mere varieties, it cannot 

 be surprising that others have done the same. Their 

 distinction, however, is now rendered unquestionable. 

 The wild swan is entirely destitute of that prominence 

 or protuberance at the base of the bill, adjoining the 

 nostrils, which is a sure characteristic of the tame 

 species: the colours of the bill are also different; for, in 

 this, the yellow parts are at the base, while the re- 

 maining portion is black ; as for the rest, the plumage 

 is pure white, with an occasional tint of greyish yellow. 

 In such birds as are in full maturity, — a state which is 

 only reached in the fourth year, — the region of the eyes 

 is bright yellow/ the eyes themselvc^s are brown, and 

 the feet black. 



