Class II. WILD SWAN. 219 



few continue in Mainland, one of the Orknies, 

 and breed in the little isles of the fresh water 

 lochs ; but the multitude retires at the approach 

 of spring. On that account, swans are there 

 the countryman's almanack ; on their quitting 

 the island, they presage good weather ; on their 

 arrival, they announce bad. These as well as 

 most other water fowl, prefer for the purpose of 

 incubation, those places that are lest frequented 

 by mankind : accordingly we find, that the lakes 

 and forests of the distant Lapland are filled dur- 

 ing summer with myriads of water fowl, which 

 in autumn return to us, and to other more hos- 

 pitable shores.* 



The length to the end of the toes is five feet ; Descrip- 

 to that of the tail four feet ten inches ; extent of 

 wing seven feet three inches ; weight from thir- 

 teen to sixteen pounds. The lower part of the 

 bill is black; the base of it, and the space 

 between that and the eyes, is covered with a 

 naked yellow skin; the eyelids are bare and 

 yellow ; the whole plumage in old birds is of a 

 pure white ; the down is very soft and thick ; 

 the legs black. 



* Flora Lapponica, 273. (Euvres de M. de Maupertuis. Tom. 

 iii. p. 141, 17.5. According to the observation of that illustrious 

 writer, the Lapland lakes are filled with the larvw of the Gnat 

 (culex pipiens. Lin. si/st. 602.) or some other insect, that depo- 

 sites its eggs in the water ; which being an agreeable food to water 

 fowl, is another cause of their resort to those deserts. 



TION. 



