Photo by 
W. P. Dando, F.Z.S. 
MUTE SWAN. 
ZOO NOTES. 
A SWAN ashore is not seen by any means 
at its best, but, as the photo- 
eraph shows, the common or 
mute species (Cygnus olor) 
still retains a certain amount of dignity on 
terra firma. This is largely due to the 
graceful curve of the neck and the knobbed 
forehead and black face, which give such a 
characteristically haughty appearance to this 
species. It will be noticed that the primary 
quills are missing from the wing seen, the 
bird having been pinioned. This operation 
is really quite unnecessary, for if the bird 
is kept in a small enclosure it can easily 
be caught up at moulting-time to have its 
wings clipped, while swans on a large piece 
of water are far better left full-winged, 
when the fine spectacle of their fight can 
be enjoyed, as at the celebrated swannery 
of Abbotsbury in Dorset. The mute swan 
is certainly by far the finest and most 
stately of all the swans, and has long 
been cultivated as an ornamental bird in 
England; indeed, it is said to have been 
introduced by Richard Cceur-de-lion. It 
may, however, occur here as a wild bird, 
as it breeds in a wild state no further off 
than south Sweden. 
Mute 
Swan. 
(3) 
THE bird is one of ~ several 
specimens benefitted by the 
Mediterranean new régime at Regent's Park, 
Peregrine : 7 7 
Falcon. having been removed from 
the dreadful little cell which 
it formerly inhabited, like other unhappy 
hawks, in the so-called Northern Aviary, 
to the somewhat more commodious quarters 
furnished by the Kites’ Aviary; the kites 
being now removed elsewhere. 'T'o be kept 
properly, however, falcons should be tied 
up with jesses and leash to a block, and 
allowed out to fly daily. Of course they 
would require to be trained for this, but 
there would be no more difficulty in 
trainine the falcons to come to the lure 
than in breaking the zebras to the saddle, 
as is being done at the time of writing 
this. 
There would be no danger to the water- 
fowl in giving the faleons some exercise 
of this kind, as the latter could be kept 
well fed, and would, besides, not be hkely 
to attack ducks on the ground or water. 
With goshawks the case would be different, 
and these fierce birds could not be let ont 
wherever there were weaker species in tlie 
open. 
present 
36 
