1:^ INDIAN IUCKS. 



(?>) CYGNUS MUSICUS. 

 THE WHOOPEE. 



Cygnus musicus, Salmdon, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 20 ; llame Sf Mar. 



(/aitic-B. iii, p. 4 ; Blanford, Jovr. B. N. H. S. xi, p. 306 ; AitJcen, ibid. 



xiii, p. 362; Crerar, ibid, xv, p. 716; BUmford, Fauna B. I. iv, p. 414; 



Oates, Oame-B. ii. p. 35. 

 Cygnus ferus, Hume, Str. Feath. vii, pp. 100, H>7, 404; viii, p. 114; id. Cat. 



no. 944 qiiat. 



Description. Adult male and female. — Piii'e wliite, i-arely showing a slight 

 rufous-grey wasli on the feathers of the liead ; this is pi-obably due to immaturity. 



Young. — Wholly a light brownish-grey. 



Nestling. — White down. 



Adult male. — Length 60 inches ; expanse 95 ; wing 25'75 ; tail 7'5 ; bill 

 along culmen (including bare space on forehead) 4-5, from tip to eye 5-16 ; tarsus 

 4-16. Weight 10 lbs. {Hume.) Total length about 5 feet; wing 25*5 inches, 

 tail S-5, culmeu 4-2, tarsus 4-2. {SaJvadori.) 



Female. — Length 52 inches ; expanse 85 ; wing 23-5 ; tail 7'5 ; bill as 

 above 4-5, to eye 4-S4 ; tarsus 4. AV^eight 16'5 lbs. {Hume.) 



A young bird killed in March (in India ?) measured 44 inches in length and 

 weighed 8'25 lbs. {Hume.) 



The young have the bill a dull flesh-colour, with the tip and margins black, 

 which extends with advancing age until it leaves only an orange band across the 

 nostrils, and the bases of both mandibles very pale yellowish-green or greenish- 

 white. In the adult bird the bill has the terminal half black, the base and 

 margins of the maxilla yellow; legs, toes, and webs black ; ii'ides deep bazel. 



For very many year.s the only occurrence of this Swan in India was 

 that recorded by Hodgson. Of this specimen a drawing was made by 

 Hodgson, and the head and I'eet arc in the British Museum, labelled 

 C. bewicki. The latter have been carefully examined by Blanford and 

 other authorities, and are now definitely accepted as being those of C>j(j)iiis 

 musicus, and C. heivicki has tlierefore been expunged from our Indian 

 fauna. 



Since my article was written for tlie Journal of the B. T^. H. S. tliere 

 have been two more instances of the W hoojjer being obtained in India. 

 The first was obtained by General W. Osborn on the (Jth January, 1900, 

 on the River Beas in the Hushiapur district of the Punjab, and its 

 occurrence was reported in tlie 'Asian' as follows : — 



