Swan-shooting 267 



WHOOPING SWAN 

 (Olor cygnus) 



Adult male and female — Entire plumage, white ; base of bill sur- 

 rounding the nostrils and lores, yellow, the remainder, black ; 

 legs and feet, black. 



Measurements — Length, 57 inches ; wing, 24 inches ; tarsus, 4 

 inches ; culmen, 4.30 inches. 



Young — General color, dark gray ; base of bill and lores, greenish 

 yellow; remainder, black, with an orange band across the 

 nostrils. 



Eggs — Four to seven in number, yellowish white in color, measure 

 4 inches by 2.50 inches. 



Habitat — Breeds in the northern parts of Europe and Asia, includ- 

 ing Iceland, and is said to have formerly bred in Greenland. 

 Winters on Bering Island (?), the Caspian Sea, and in Great 

 Britain and Europe as far south as Egypt. Occurs occasion- 

 ally in southern Greenland. 



Formerly this species bred in Greenland, near 

 Godthaab, but was exterminated by the Eskimos, 

 when moulting and helpless. During the past 

 thirty years single individuals have occasionally 

 reappeared in southern Greenland, probably mere 

 stragglers from Iceland, where the bird breeds. 



On some hillock in a retired marsh of Iceland 

 or northern Eurasia the whooping swan heaps 

 together rushes to form its nest. Simple as is 

 such a home, it must be dear to the birds, for it is 

 said that a pair will return to the same nest for 

 years. Both parents guard their young bravely, 

 attacking all who approach. At other times they 

 are wary, and as the V-shaped flocks pass they 

 trumpet frequently. 



