BLACK SWAN. 
The Black Swan is wholly of thai dark 
hue from which it derives it's- name; with the 
sole exception of the long wing-feathers, or 
remiges, w^hich are w^hite. The beak, which 
is of a fine red, has a blackish tip on the up- 
per mandible, and on the curvature near the 
tip is a spot of yellow. The feet are some- 
what lighter than the legs, which are of a 
deep black. 
From the snowy whiteness invariablv found 
to preside over- the plumage of the Common 
Swan, no small number of those who believe 
nothing but what they see, and who think 
themselves, what they certainly are not, the 
wisest of mankind, for a considerable time 
refused their assent to the possibility of a Black 
Swan's existence. It has, however, been 
abundantly proved, even in their own way ; 
the stuft'cd bird having been repeatedly seen in 
England. We cannot, liowever, positively 
assert, that the Black Swan has yet made it's 
appearance alive in any part of Europe ;. 
tliough we see no good reason why it might 
not be broiight over, and even bred in our 
climate. 
