WILD FOWL 
Grown reddish-brown, shading into rufous on 
the sides of the head and neck, inclining to 
whitish on the chin, throat and foreneck; occi- 
pital crest short, less than 1*5 inch in length; 
wing 8*5 inches Red-breasted Mergan- 
ser : M. serrator 2 , p. 378. 
Size smaller; wing 6*5 to 7*5 inches. 
8\ Top and sides of the head and back of the neck 
brownish-chestnut; chin, throat and foreneck 
pure white; crest very slightly developed about 
0*8 inch in length; bill 1*1 inch; wing 6*75 inches Smew: M. albellus 2, 
h ^80 
t*. Top and sides of the head and neck brownish ^* 
with a long compressed and erect rufous crest, 
nearly two inches in height; chin and throat 
pure white; bill 1*6 inch; wing 7*5 inches . . Hooded Merganser : 
Lophodytes cucullatus 2 , 
p. 382. 
SWANS 
HREE species of swans are met with in Western Europe and 
the British Isles. 
They are easily recognized by their large size and very long 
neck, as long or even longer than the body. The plumage of 
the adults is entirely white; pale brown in young birds. They 
differ from both the geese and ducks in having the space in 
front of the eyes entirely bare of feathers, and from the former in their 
shorter leg, which is never as long as the middle toe. Their movements 
when walking are very awkward, but on the water they are extremely 
graceful birds. Their food is chiefly obtained in the water, and for this 
purpose they immerse their long necks, elevating the hinder part of the 
body like the geese and surface -feeding ducks. They are incapable of 
diving. Their flight is strong and rapid, the neck being fully extended, 
and when migrating they usually fly at a great height. 
The sexes are alike in plumage, but the male is usually somewhat 
larger and heavier than the female. They moult once a year, in the 
autumn. 
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