312 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



every year, but in some cases repair the old one. This is usually made on the 

 ground on an island in a dense thicket, or amongst tall grass and other aquatic 

 vegetation, and consists of a huge pile of dead grass, rushes, reeds, and any other 

 rubbish the birds can collect in the neighbourhood. As incubation advances the 

 nest is increased in bulk, especially when in a district subject to sudden inundatioii. 

 Many nests are said to be built together in some localities. The eggs are from 

 five to eight in number, old birds laying from eight to twelve. They are greenish- 

 white or very pale green, rough in texture, and with little or no gloss. They 

 measure on an average 4'5 inches in length by 3'0 inches in breadth. Incuba- 

 tion, performed by the female, lasts from five to six weeks. One brood only is 

 reared in the year. 



Diagnostic characters — Gygnus, with the tail wedge-shaped and long, 

 and with the lores and frontal tubercle black. Length, 60 inches. 



