278 NATATORES. CYGNUS. Swan. 
These birds, so conspicuous amongst the Anatidee by their 
superior size and graceful appearance upon the water, are 
distinguished from the Geese by the form of the bill, which 
is as wide towards the tip as at the base, approaching nearer 
in shape to that of the Ducks. The neck is also more elon- 
gated, and the backward position and comparative shortness 
of the legs, by indicating an increased. power of swimming, 
with a diminished activity in walking on land, brings them 
into closer connexion with the natatorial tribes of the family. 
Their food principally consists of the roots, stems, and leaves 
of aquatic plants; the former of which they are enabled to 
reach in water of some depth by their great length of neck. 
With them the intestines and czca are very long; and al- 
though the trachea does not possess any labyrinth or am- 
pulla, in some species it performs certain convolutions before 
it enters the lungs. Their flight, from the full development 
of wing, is strong and rapid. 
WHISTLING SWAN. 
Cyenus rerus, Ray. 
PLATE XLVII. 
renee ferus, Raii Syn. 136. A.—Will. 272. t. 69.—Briss. Orn. 6. 292. 
pl. 28.—Steph. Shaw’s Zool. 12. 10. pl. 37.—Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 126. 
sp. 194. 
Mdina Cygnus (ferus), Linn. Syst. 1. 194. 
Anas Cygnus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 501.—Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 833. sp. 1. 
Cygne sauvage, Buff: Ois. 9. 3.—id. Pl. Enl. 913. 
Cygne a bec jaune, ou sauvage, Temm. Man. 2. 828. 
Le Cygne a bec noir, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 529. 
Der Singschwan, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 330.—Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 
2. 498. 
Wild Swan, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 562. No. 264.—Will. (Angl.) 356. t. 69.— 
Edw. Glean. t. 150.—Rennie’s Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, 
ed. 1826. p. t. 265.—Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 126. sp. 194. 
Whistling Swan, Penn. Arct. Zool. 2. 469.—Lath. Syn. 6. 433.—Id. Sup. 
272.—Id. Sup. 2. 341.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 6. pl. 236.—Mont. Orn. Dict. 
and Sup.—Shaw’s Zool. 12. 10. pl. 37. 
Provincrat—Elk, Hooper, Hooping Swan. 
