462 



The Living Animals of the World 



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TUU.MI'IiTEK- AM) WIIOOPKK-SW A.NS. 



The tninilieter is tlio liiixl in the fijiegruunj : the whoo|ior ia reUKiikuljk' fur its iiiusicU iiute, lesenihlirif the 



id " whuop" ([uickly lepcuted. 



Tliev are tiny birds, resembling small clucks rather than geese, and di\e adniirabl}', a feat 

 which the larger species do not jierform. 



The Swans are linked with the Geese through a very beautiful South American species, 

 known as the CoscoiiOUA Swan. It is the smallest of all the swans, ]iure white in colour, save 

 the tijis of the greater wing-ijuills, which are black, and the coral-red liill and feet. 



Of all the swans, probably the Ijest known is the jMute Swax, the semi-domesticated 

 descendants of which are so common on ornamental waters. For hundreds of years the 

 latter were jealously guarded, none but the larger freeiiolders being allowed to keep them, and 

 then not without a licence froin tlie Crown; with this licence was coupled an obligation to 

 mark each swan with a i)articular mark, cut witli a knife or other instrament through the skin 

 of the beak, whereby ownershiji might be established. 



It would seem that these swaiis and their descendants were not derived from the native 

 wild stock, but were introduced into England, it is said, lidin ('yi>rus by liichard 1. At the 

 ])resent dav large "swanneries'' have almost ceased to e.xist. Perhaps the largest is that of 

 the Earl of Ilcliester, at Abl>otsbury, near Weymouth. In 1878 between 1,300 and 1.400 

 swans were to be seen there at one time, but latterly the nund)er has been reduced to 

 about half. 



Although swans do not jjerhaps stand so high in the general esteem as table delicacies 

 as with oiu- forefathei-s, there are yet iiumy who a])preciate the flesh of this bird; but the 

 St. Helen's Swan-pit at Norwich is the only ])lace in iMigland where they are systematically 

 fattened for the tahle. Here fiom 70 to 200 cygnets — as the young swans are called — 

 caught in the neighbouring ri\ers, are ])laced early in August, and fed upon cut grass and 

 barley till Christmas, when they are fit for tal)le, weighing, when •■ dressed," about 15 lbs., 



