TRANSACTIONS 



OF 



THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 



Sfc. S^c. Sfc. 



No. I. — Notice of a new Species of Swan. By Mr. R. R. Wingate. 



Read October 20, 1829. 



A Swan was shot on the 7th February, 1829, near Haydon Bridge, in 

 the County of Northumberland, which came into possession of the Li- 

 terary and Philosophical Society of this town, and was sent to me to be 

 preserved for the Museum, by which I was enabled to point out, from 

 personal observation, to a certain extent, the specific distinction be- 

 tween it and the common Wild Swan, which consists chiefly in the great 

 difference of weight and size. The Wild Swan CAnas Cygnus ferns 

 Lin.), exceeds the other in length 11 inches ; in breadth 10^ inches ; 

 and in weight 5ilbs. There is also a difference in the length, marking, 

 and formation of the bill ; the upper mandible at the base rising into 

 a knob, marked with a triangular dusky spot, which, in the Wild Swan 

 at the same part, is hollow, and of a bright yellow ; and the nostrils are 

 pervious, but in the new species they are opaque. The upper part of 

 the neck is also much smaller, and the lower part thicker, which gives 

 it an elegant appearance. The tail consists of only twenty feathers, 

 whilst in the Wild Sw^n there are twenty-two. All the plumage, in both 



VOL. I. B 



