454 

 A REVIEW OF THE INDIAN SWANS. 



BY 



E. C. Stuaet Baker, F.Z.S., F.L.S. and M.B.O.U. 



(With a Plate.) 



In 1897 when writing a series of articles on "Indian Dncks 

 and their Allies," it was very doubtful what species of swans had 

 been obtained in India, biit I then accepted records of Gygnus 

 musicus, G. bewicki and G. olor. Of these, however, the second had 

 to be eliminated as Blanford showed that the head and feet, 

 hitherto supposed to have belonged to this species, were really those 

 oi musicus. Ten years later, in 1908, when these articles to which 

 I refer, appeared in book form, there were therefore only two species 

 of swans, i.e., musicus and olor, the Whooper and the Mute Swan, 

 which had been authenticated as having occurred in India. Since 

 then a great deal more information has been obtained on the 

 occurrence of swans in that country and, in addition to this, 

 Alpheraky has described a new Eastern form under the name 

 janlcoivsJcii ; it seems, therefore, desirable to again examine the 

 question of what swans have occurred in India and at the same 

 time it may be useful to summarise all information up-to-date and 

 give a key to the species. The correct name for Gygnus musicus is 

 Gygnus cygnus, and will be used hereafter in this article. 



Key to the Species. 



A. — Lores and triangular patch between forehead and gape 

 yellow or orange yellow, never black. No knob at base 

 of bill. 



a. Yellow on bill extending right up to 

 the nostril and sometimes still 

 further towards tip of bill ... cygnus. 



h. Yellow never reaching to nostril and 

 generally confined to somewhat 

 circular patch on base. 



a. Bill longer, broader but less 

 high at the base in compa- 

 rison. Serrations on bill 

 hardly visible when closed. janJcowsMi. 

 h. Bill shorter, not so broad but 

 comparatively high at base. 

 Serrations visible along 

 whole length of bill when 

 closed ... ... ... hewicTci. 



B. — Lores and triangular patch black. A knob at 



base of bill in adults... ... ... ... oIoTc 



