SWAN. 
393 
NAT A TORES. 
ANATIDjE. 
SWAN. 
Cygnus ferus. 
PLATE CXI. EIG. II. 
During the time in which the Rev. Mr. Low wrote 
his Fauna of the Orkneys , the Swan was known to 
breed on some of the outer islands of that group. It 
has, however, long since ceased to remain in this country 
during the breeding season, and is now a visitor in the 
winter only. 
Mr. G. C. Atkinson, of Newcastle, had the good for¬ 
tune to meet with a nest and eggs of this species during 
his visit to Iceland. It was placed on the centre of a 
small island, not more than fifteen or twenty yards in 
diameter, and just rising above the fresh-water lake by 
which it was surrounded. This was on the south-west 
of Iceland where the Swans are seldom seen, although 
very abundant to the north of that country. The nest 
was made of water-plants, and raised about six inches 
above the sward on which it was placed ; it was about 
eighteen inches in diameter, lined with materials similar 
to those used in its outward structure, and contained 
three eggs in the last stage of incubation. Mr. Proctor 
tells me that this species lines its nest with down, with 
which the eggs are also covered. 
Mr. Wolley has met with the Swan in Lapland, and 
