CYGNUS.
Neck long, equal to or longer than body; tarsus short, reticulated, hind toe not lobed.
Cygnus Cygnus (L.). W11 OOPER SWAN. Fr. Cygne sauvage ; Ger. Singschwan ; /la/. Cigno selvatico ; Seed. Sangsvan.
? Entirely white. Bill in front black, base yellow ; yellow extending forward at sides to below middle of nares. Lores yellow. I.egs and feet black. Iris brown. Wing d ? Tarsus 112-120. Bill 101-112, 94-103 (W.). Young : ashy brown ; bill and legs flesh coloured.
Breeds.—Iceland ; N. Europe, chiefly within Arctic Circle, but in Russia south to about on Volga ; Oesel (Gulf of Riga), and across N. Siberia. Migrates ; some arc resident in Iceland ; occurs in winter C. and S. Europe, British Isles, becoming rarer in Mediterranean countries. Has recently nested in Scotland.
Cygnus bewicki bewicki Yarrell. BEWICK'S SWAN. Ger. Kleiner Singschwan ; Ital. Cigno ininore.
? White. Smaller than " cygnus." Bill black, basal part yellow, yellow at sides not reaching nostril. Legs and feet black.
Iris brown. Wing j 515-537, 7 475-525. Tarsus too-1 I 5.
Bill j 90-98, (W.). In young, bill is whitish at base, black towards tip ; legs and feet dull yellowish white.
Breeds.—From White Sea, east through Siberia to Lena ; Nova Zembla, \Vaigatz, and Kolguev. Migrates ; occurs in winter British Isles, W. Europe, and in E. Europe south to Mediterranean and Caspian Seas ; also C. Asia.
Cygnus olor (Gmelin). MUTE SWAN. Fr. Cygne domes tique ; Ger. Hockerschwan ; Ital. Cigno reale ; Swed. Knotsvan.
j 9 White. Bill orange red, area round nostrils, base and cutting edges black, and black below. At base of upper mandible is a black knob, this frontal tubercle is less developed in 9 but is noticeable even in young. Legs and feet dark grey. Wing e 560_622, 9 Tarsus 98-12o. Bill j from knob 70-85, 9 from feathers 73-90 (W.). Young are sooty brownish grey ; bill black.
Breeds.—(In wild state) S. Sweden, Denmark, N. Germany, C. and S. Russia, Danube Valley, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Deltas of Volga and Ural, and through Siberia to Mongolia. Migrates ; winters in Mediterranean Basin, N.W. Africa, Egypt (rare) ; and from Caspian districts to N.W. India.