SWANS. 189 



BEWICK'S SWAN.— Plate 83. 50 inches. All 

 wliite ; space between eye and base of bill, and base 

 of bill itself, deep yellow ; remainder of bill, including 

 the ridge of upper mandible from* base to tip, black ; 

 legs and feet black. Winter migrant. 



Like the Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan is a winter 

 visitor to our parts, occurring on the Scottish coasts 

 and in the Outer Hebrides, and receding to Ireland 

 in great numbers before keen frost. In its mode of 

 flight and general behaviour it resembles the Whooper, 

 from which it is distinguished, however, by its con- 

 siderably smaller size. It uses a clanging note, 

 mellower than that of the Whooper. 



WHOOPER SWAN— 5 feet ; space between eye and base 

 of bUl lighter yellow; no black ridge running back on 

 upper mandible; the front half of bill alone black, 

 divided from the yellow basal half in a line descending 

 obliquely forwards. 



MUTE SWAN— 5 feet ; bill deep orange-red ; black patch 

 before eye ; tubercle, nostrils, and tip of bill also black. 



