The Black-necked Swan. 



573 



Gardens. It is, however, necessary to remark that they are apt to be more overbearing and 

 tyrannical towards smaller water-fowl than the White Swans. 



THE BLACK-NECKED SWAN {Cygniis nig-rtco/Iis), sometimes called the Chilian Swan, is a 

 most beautiful bird, imported from South America. The eyes are brown ; the bill lead-colour, with 

 the protuberance (which is strongly marked in this species) red ; the legs reddish orange. The 

 plumage is pure white, except the head and neck, which are jet black, all but a narrow streak of 



' THE BLACK SWAN. 



white across the eye. In swimming the neck is held nearly straight, like that of a goose, not 

 curved, as in most other swans. The young are said to grow with immense rapidity, which is 

 worthy of note, with a view to domestication. The late Earl of Derby was the first to possess these 

 beautiful birds, which for some time would not breed ; but for several years past broods have now 

 been reared annually in the Zoological Gardens at Regent's Park. 



Very little can be said upon the management of swans. They are so large and powerful, and 

 so intolerant of interference, or even the presence of man during the process of incubation, that any 

 attempt at "management" is for the most part not only impossible, but positively dangerous. It 



