272 
BRITISH BIRDS, 
WILD SWAN, 
ELK, HOOPER, OR WHISTLING SWAN. 
{^Anas Cygnus ferus, Lin . — Le Cygne fau^agCy Buff.) 
The Wild Swan meafures five feet in length, 
and above feven in breadth, and weighs from thir- 
teen to fixteen pounds. The bill is three inches 
long, of a yellowifh white from the bafe to the 
middle, and thence to the tip, black : the bare 
fpace from the bill over the eye and eye-lids is 
yellow : the whole plumage in adult birds is of a 
pure white, and, next to the fkin, they are cloathed 
with a thick fine down : the legs are black. 
This fpecies generally keeps together in fmall 
flocks, or families, except in the pairing feafon, and 
at the fetting in of winter. At the latter period 
they aflemble in immenfe multitudes, particularly 
on the large rivers and lakes of the thinly inhabit- 
ed northern parts of Europe, Afia, and America : 
but when the extremity of the weather threatens to 
become infupportable, in order to lliun the gather- 
ing fiorm, they fhape their courfe high in air, in 
divided and diminifhed numbers, in fearch of mild- 
er climates. In fuch feafons they are mofl: com- 
monly feen in various parts of the Britifli ifles, and 
in other more fouthern countries of Europe. The 
fame is obferved of them in the North American 
ftates. They do not, however, remain longer than 
