A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![reddish orange; tlie nail, lateral margins, nostrils, and base of upper mandible black ; the elongated openings of the nos- trils do not reach the black colour at the base of the beak on each side, but are en- tirely surrounded by the orartge-colour of the beak; the tubercle [atthe base of the upper mandible] of small size ; the irides brown ; the head, neck, and whole of the plumage pure white; legs, toes, and inter- vening membranes slate-grey.”— Yarrell, Br. Birds, iii. 233. The cygnets, instead of being of the smoky grey-colour so fami- liar to all who have bred the Mute or Do- mestic Swan, ore of a pure white. The species ditferentiated by Mr. yarrell, as above, has not been adopted by continental ornithologists.] [Swan, Common, , [Swan, Domestic. | See Swan, Mute.] [ Swan, Mute.—Yarrell, iii. 209 (head only). Anas olor, Pennant, Br. Zool. ii. 221. Cyg- nus olor, Temni. Man. d’Ornith. ii. 830, iv. 529.— “ The adult bird has the nail at the point of tiie beak, the edge of the man- dible on each side, the base, the lore to the eye, the orifice of the nostifils, and the tubercle [at the base of the upper man- dible] black; the rest of the beak reddish orange; the irides brown; the head, neck, and all the plumage pure white; the legs, toes, and interdiginal membranes black.” — Yarrell, iii. 215. The Mute Swan is so universally domesticated on our orna- mental waters, breeds so freely, and is allowed such perfect libei'ty, that it is ex- tremely [difficult to decide on any indi- viduals that may make their appearance, whether or not they have been bred in a wild state; It is certain that this species breeds in Eastern Europe, but as certainly not in Britain.] Swan, Hooping.—See Swan, Whistling. [Swan, Polish.—See Swan, Changeless.] Swan, Whistling, or Wild Swan,—[Tar- rell, iii. 191; Hewitson, cxi. 393.] Anas Cygnus (ferus), Lin. Syst. i. p. 191; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 501; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 833, 1; Cygnus ferus, Bris. vi. p. 292, 12, t. 28; Ib. 8vo, ii. p. 439; Raii Syn. p. 130, A. 2; Will. p. 272, t. 09. Cygne sauvage, Buf. ix. p. 3. Wild Swan, Br. Zool. ii. No. 204; lb. fol. 149, t. Addend.; Will. Anyl. p. 350, t. 09 ; Edw. 1.150. Whistling Swan, Arct. Zool. ii. No. 409; Ib. Sup. p. 75; Lath. Syn. vi. p. 433; Sup. p. 272; Lewin, Br. Birds, vii. t. 230 ; Wale. Syn. i. t. 55 ; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 19 ; Lath.' Syn. Sup. ii. p. 341; Lin. Trans.iv.p. 105, t. 12, f. 12 (trachea); Bewick, Br. Birds, ii. p. 272. Provincial: Elk, or Plooper. — This is a very distinct species from the Com- mon or Mute Swan, of which we shall take notice in this place [merely to show the difference; for as that bird is confined to a half-domesticated state, and is real pi'operty, it cannot claim a place amongst the wild or native birds of this country. The Whistling Swan is infei-ior in size to the other species; the weight from fifteen to twenty-live pounds; length four feet ten inches ; breadth seven feet. The bill is between four and five inches in length, two-thirds of which is yeUow from the base, and bare of feathers up to the eyes ; the end part is black, running to an angle up the middle ; irides of a very light yel- low. The whole plumage is of a pure white; in some there are a few marks of faint rust-colour on the head; the tail con- sists of twenty feathers; legs black. The tame Swan is not only much superior in weight, but is at once distinguished by a large black callous knob on the base of the bill; but the more essential distinction is in the extraordinary convolution of the windpipe, peculiar to the Whistling Swan. This enters a large cavity in the breast- bone, to the depth of more than two inches; then returns and forms a junction with the lungs. Dr. Latham has given a very excellent figure of this wonderful formation, in an essay on the tracheae of birds, in the fourth volume of the ‘ Lin- nean Transactions.’ This, which both sexes possess, makes a material distinction in the two species. What peculiar use this is of we are at a loss to determine. The Common Swan is seldom heard to make any noise, and that a very faint one; whereas this bird has a prodigious loud call that may be heard to a great distance, which it frequently utters as it is flying, and resembles greatly that of the Cuckow. Having killed one of this species out of a flock of ten or twelve, its companions flew round several times, making a most me- lancholy cry before they flew off. This put us in mind of the solemn dirge of the dying Swan described by the ancient poets, and may possibly have given rise to those accounts; only by them it is mode to be sung by the dying bird. This species visits the lakes of Scotland evei^ winter, but comes more southward only in severe weather; some few ore said to breed in the Orkney Isles. It is found in all the northern countries, Iceland, Lapland, the desorts of Tartary and Siberia, as far as Kamtschatka; also in America; and not uncommon at Hudson’s Bay. Is said to lay only four eggs. Siirn.EMENT. — Doctor Latham, on the authority of Doctor Maton, considers the Whisthng Swan ns indigenous to Dorset-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0361.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
