ANATID.E. 465 



[224.] 2. Cygnus Bewickii. (Yarrell.) Bewick's Swan. 



Sub-family, Anserinae, Swains. Genus, Cygnus, Auctor. 



Cygnus Bewickii. Yarrell. Linn. Trans., xvi., p. 445, Jan. 1830. Selby, Illustr of Orn., vi., pi. 95*. 



Ch. Sp. Cygnus Bewickii, alius, rostro nigro pone nares aurantiaco, rectricibus 18, pedibus nigris. 



Sp. Ch. Bewick's Swan, white, bill yellow at the base posterior to the nostrils, 18 tail feathers, feet black. 



This Swan breeds on the sea coast within the Arctic circle, and is seen in the 

 interior of the fur countries on its passage only. It makes its appearance amongst 

 the latest of the migratory birds in the spring, while the Trumpeter Swans are, 

 with the exception of the Eagles, the earliest. It winters, according to Lewis 

 and Clarke, near the mouth of the Columbiaf. Captain Lyon describes its nest 

 as built of moss-peat, nearly six feet long and four and three-quarters wide, 

 and two feet high exteriorly ; the cavity a foot and a half in diameter. The 

 eggs were brownish-white, slightly clouded with a darker tint. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a specimen, killed at Igloolik, lat. 6G°, June 19, 1823. 

 Colour, pure white, except the crown, nape, and superior parts of the neck, which 

 are deeply tinged with reddish-orange, and the belly, which is slightly glossed with the same. 

 Bill black ; cere orange (that colour entirely behind the nostrils). Irides also orange. Feet 

 black — Old birds entirely white, and young ones grey. 

 Form. — Second and third quills equal and longest. Tail cuneiform, of eighteen feathers. 



Dimensions];. 



Lin. Feet. Inch. 



6 Extent of wing . .61 



9 Weight 13J lbs. 



3 



— R. 



* We know not whether we should attribute the first designation of this Swan to our friend Mr. Yarrell, or (as 

 mentioned by our friends Sir W. Jardine and Mr. Selby) to Mr. Richard Wingate, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We have 

 not, in fact, perused the whole of the statements on both sides ; but as these will come before the public, the question 

 may be decided by others. — Sw. 



f " The Swans are of two kinds — the large and small. The large Swan is the same with the one common in the 

 Atlantic States. The small differs from the large only in size and note ; it is about one-fourth less, and its note is 

 entirely different. These birds were first found below the Great Narrows of the Columbia, near the Chilluckittequaw 

 nation. They are very abundant in this neighbourhood, and remained with the party all winter, and in number they 

 exceed those of the larger species in the proportion of five to one." — Lewis and Clarke, Journ., &c, 



\ From Mr. Yarrell's Paper. 







Inch. 



Lin. 



Inch. 



ngt 



h, total 



55 







Length of bill above . 3 



« 



of wing 



. 20 



6 



„ of tarsus . . 3 



53 



of bill to eye . 



4 



H 



,, of middle toe and nail 5 



3 O 



