46 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



and White, mention it incidentally in their Voyages ; 

 and Labillardiere, in his Narrative of the expedition of 

 D'Entrecasteaux in search of La Perouse, has given 

 a more particular description, together with a tolerable 

 figure. Another figure, of no great value, has also been 

 given by Dr. Shaw in his Zoological Miscellany. 



Since this period many living individuals have been 

 brought to England, where they thrive equally well 

 with the Emeus, the Kanguroos, and other Australian 

 animals, insomuch that they can now scarcely be re- 

 garded as rarities even in this country. They are 

 precisely similar in form and somewhat inferior in size 

 to the Wild and Tame Swans of the Old W orld ; but 

 are perfectly black in every part of their plumage, with 

 the exception of the primary and a few of the secondary 

 quill-feathers, which are white. Their bill is of a bright 

 red above, and is surmounted at the base in the male 

 by a slight protuberance, which is wanting in the female. 

 Towards its anterior part it is crossed by a whitish 

 band. The under part of the bill is of a grayish white ; 

 and the legs and feet are of a dull ash-colour. In every 

 other respect, except in the mode of convolution of its 

 trachea, this bird so perfectly corresponds with its well 

 known congeners, that it is only necessary to refer to 

 the articles in which we shall hereafter describe those 

 beautiful species for an account of the characters which 

 are common to them all. 



The Black Swans are found as well in Van Diemen's 

 Land as in New South Wales and on the western coast 

 of New Holland. They are generally seen in flocks of 

 eight or nine together, floating on a lake ; and when 

 disturbed, flying off like wild geese in a direct line one 

 after the other. They are said to be extremely shy, so 

 as to render it difficult to approach within gunshot of 

 them. 



