WILD SWANS 163 



only mention, without going into details. Others 

 must decide the point as to whether they are distinct 

 species or merely varieties ; I have never seen them 

 myself in a wild state. 



Swans have a huffish tinge on the head and a 

 little way down the neck ; and this, I believe, is 

 caused by stains from the bruised roots of plants 

 that the birds nozzle and spatter in under the water. 

 Some roots stain very much when bruised, as I have 

 found after searching with my fingers for things that 

 were out of sight under water. 



THE WHOOPING SWAN. 

 {Cygnus musicus.) 



Male. — The bare space on the forehead, and from 

 the base of the upper mandible to the eyes, is bright 

 yellow ; basal part of bill and part of the base of the 

 lower mandible also yellow ; rest of bill black ; iris 

 brown ; legs and feet black. Length, from bill to 

 tail, sixty inches. Wings, from tip to tip, ninety- 

 five inches. 



Female.— Differs from male only in being smaller. 



BEWICK'S SWAN. 

 {Cygnus bewicki.) 



Male. — The bill black, with the exception of a 

 bright yellow triangular patch on each side at the 

 base ; iris brown ; legs and feet black. Length, 

 from bill to tail, forty-five inches. Wings, from tip 

 to tip, seventy-four inches. 



