MUTE SWAN. 157 
Famity ANATIDA. 
MUTE SWAN. 
Cyranus oLor, Gmel. 
Pl. XXIIL, fig. 4. 
Geogr. distr.—Kept in a semi-domesticated state throughout 
Europe, but in some parts of N. and E. Europe tolerably numerous 
in a wild condition. Mr. Dresser says that it does not occur in a feral 
condition in Great Britain, the examples seen upon our coasts having 
strayed from swanneries. Generally distributed in England, but rarer 
towards the north; domesticated in Ireland. 
Food.—Aquatic plants, Mollusca, fish and ova. : 
Nest.—A rounded mass of aquatic herbage or grass, four to five 
feet in width, heaped together; the central depression lined with 
somewhat finer materials. 
Position of nest.—On a small island or large tussock rising out of 
the water, or close to the edge of a sloping bank amongst reeds. 
Number of eggs.—5-8. 
Time of nidification.—V. 
Some twenty years ago, whilst on a visit to the Isle of 
Wight with a brother, we came suddenly upon a flock of 
thirteen Swans,* which were disporting themselves in and 
around a pool of shallow water not far from Alum Bay: at 
our approach they all took wing, with considerable noise, 
and, in my innocence, I concluded at the time that they 
were genuine wild swans; they were all in full adult 
plumage. 
The Swan is very jealous of any approach to its nest, 
even though the eggs (owing to its own neglect) may 
contain dead cygnets; I remember well being chased by a 
pair of Swans, whose five eggs were in this condition, and 
I not only found it necessary to row hard, but also, from 
time to time, to defend myself with an oar from their 
vicious onslaught. They had not been on the nest pre- 
viously for two or three days, and four of the eggs, when 
opened, were found to contain dead birds almost ready to 
hatch ; the fifth egg was addled, and was blown with ease. 
* A note on the occurrence of a flock of fifteen at Newchurch 
occurs in the ‘ Zoologist,’ vol. iii, p. 971. 
