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ANATID.E. 



Iceland, where these swans breed, it is said that many pairs 

 congregate in one spot, although each pair keep their im- 

 mediate space to themselves, without allowing their neigh- 

 bours to interfere. The nests are composed of boughs of the 

 northern willow, rushes, and leaves of divers flags, &c, piled 

 one upon another, without much labour being bestowed in 

 weaving them together ; the eggs are usually from five to 

 seven in number ; but we forbear to figure one until we have 

 obtained a specimen that we can sufficiently rely upon. 



The entire length of Bewick's Swan is three feet nine 

 inches ; the beak to the forehead, three inches six lines ; to 

 the eyes four inches four and a-half lines ; the middle toe, 

 five inches three lines ; the wing twenty inches six lines 

 from the carpus to the tip. 



The entire plumage white ; the colours of the beak are 

 black and orange yellow, the former occupying the tip, and 

 extending beyond the nostrils, as before-mentioned, and cover- 

 ing the ridge of the mandibles, including also the fleshy 

 part of the under mandible ; the base and lore orange yel- 

 low ; the legs and feet dull black ; the eyes dark chestnut. 



