THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
WHOOPER SWAN 
CYGNUS CYGNUS 
(Plate XXVII, Fig. 2) 
Cygnus ferus, Gould, Birds Europe, v, pi. 355 (1837). 
Cygnus musicus. Dresser, Birds Europe, vi, p. 433, pi. 419, fig. 4 (1880); Lilford, Col. Fig. 
Brit. Birds, part xxv, pi. (1893); Salvador!, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvii, p. 26 (1895); Saunders, 
III. Man. Brit. Birds, p. 413 (1899). 
■"^1^ DUET male. — Entire plumage pure white, occasionally tinged 
with rusty yellow on the feathers of the head. Iris brown ; 
/ bare space on the forehead and in front of the eyes, as 
f well as the basal part of the bill, bright yellow ; the 
i terminal portion black, extending along the ridge and 
■L.on the sides from the tip as far as the nostrils ; legs, toes 
and their membranes, black. Total length about 60 inches ; bill 4*2 inches ; 
wing 25*0 inches; tail 7 inches; tarsus 4*6 inches. 
Adult female — Similar to the male, but smaller. Total length about 
55 inches; bill 4*1 inches; wing 22*5 inches; tail 6*7 inches; tarsus 
4*2 inches. 
Young in first autumn-plumage. — Greyish -brown, paler on the under- 
parts. Basal portion of the bill flesh-colour, terminal portion black ; feet 
dull flesh -colour. 
Young in down . — ^Nearly white, somewhat ashy on the crown and back. 
Bill flesh -colour, tip blackish, nail whitish. 
General distribution.— llhQ whooper breeds in Iceland, Northern Europe 
and Northern Asia, extending eastwards to Kamchatka and the 
Commander Islands in Bering Sea. In winter it migrates southwards 
to Central and Southern Europe, Central Asia, China and Japan. In severe 
winters it is met with in North Africa, on the large lakes of Algeria and 
in Lower Egypt; also in Palestine. 
Distribution in the British Isles . — ^To the British Islands it is now only 
a winter-visitor, its numbers varying according to the mildness or severity 
of the weather prevailing in Northern Europe. It appears regularly on 
the coasts of Scotland and the adjacent islands towards the end of October, 
and November, and frequents the estuaries and lochs, individuals some- 
times remaining until May. In severe weather it is often common on the 
shores of England and Wales, but it is only an irregular winter -visitor 
to Ireland, where the smaller Bewick’s swan is far more numerous. 
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