16 INDIAN DUCKS. 



(4) CYGNUS OLOR. 

 THE MUTE SWAN. 



Cygnus olor, Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 35 ; Scully, Str. FeatJi. iv, 

 p. 197 ; Blanfonl, ibid, vii, p. 99 ; Hume, ibid. pp. 101, 106 ; Hume 4' 

 Mar. Game-B. iii, p, 41 ; Maemullen, Jour. B. N. H. S. xiv, p. 156 ; 

 Blanford, Fauna B. I. iv, p. 413 ; Oates, Game-B. ii, p. 26. 



Cygnus unwini, Blanford, Str. Feath. \'\i, p. 100 ; Hume, ibid. p. 104. 



Cygnus sp., Hume, Sir. Feath. iv, p. 33 : vii, p. 104. 



Description. Adult male. — The whole plumage white, witli the exception of 

 the lores, which are black. Bill, the tubercle, base of maxilla, nostrils, margins, 

 tuid nail black, remainder of maxilla reddish-horny ; mandible wholly black ; legs 

 and feet dull black ; irides rich bro\\n. 



Total leiigtii from 4-7 to 5*2 feet ; wing 23 to 27 inches, tail about 1(», 

 cuhnen 4*2, tarsus about 4-5, but varying very much. 



AVeight about 15 to 20 lbs. ; in a wild state rarely running up to 24 or 25 lbs. ; 

 in a tame state birds of 30 lbs. may be met with, and heavier birds even than 

 this ha\e been recorded. 



Female. — Smaller than the male, and with the tubercle at the base of the 

 bill less developed. The neck is also more developed aud the bird "swims deeper 

 in the water" (Hume). In the majority of the birds of this order the duck swims 

 deeper than the drake, the reason of this being the different anatomical structure 

 of the sexes. 



Length 4*2 to 4*8 feet ; wing IS to 22 inches, tad under 10, culmen about 4, 

 tarsus about 4*3. 



Young. — " Plumage almost a soot)' -grey ; neck and under surface of the body 

 lighter in colour ; beak lead-colour ; nostrils and the basal marginal line black."' 

 {Salvadori.) 



Cygnets. — " Covered with soft brownish or dull ashy -grey down, ^\ hich on tlic 

 lower throat and breast becomes much paler, almost white; bill and legs lead- 

 grey." (Salvadori.) 



In India the specimens of the Mute Swan obtained are nearly all young ones, 

 and these have the tubercle on the bill very slightly or not at all developed, but 

 the feathers of the forehead at the base of the bill are prolonged to a point 

 " slightly truncated "' (Hume). 



The range of this bird does not seem to l)e nearly as extensive as that 

 o£ the previous bird and Cy(jnu)< hewicki, that is to say in a truly feral state. 

 As a domestic bird it is. of course, almost cosmopolitan. In the summer, 



