Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell.
o
Vernacular Names.—[None, j
HE only instance of the occurrence of this species
within our limits, of which w-e have any record, is
the one noted by Mr. Hodgson, by one of whose
people a Swan was shot in January 1829, in the
valley of Nepal. The skin was destroyed by insects,
but a large and careful drawing of the fresh bird
was made by one of Mr. Hodgson's trained ornithological
artists; and, although others have supposed this
drawing to represent the Hooper, I myself cannot doubt that it
represents a nearly adult bird of the present species. Unfortunately,
Mr. Hodgson recorded none of his customary notes as
to dimensions, anatomy, &c, which would have set all doubts
on the subject (if any such can exist,) finally at rest.
In regard to this Swan Mr. Hodgson noted on a copy of his
Catalogue which he sent me :—
" The valley of Nepal is sub-tropical, and of course, no habitat
for the Swan. The specimen I got was obtained in a winter
of very unusual severity. The bird must be a purely accidental
straggler, as I could not learn that any like it had ever before
been seen in Nepal."
In reply to queries of mine on the subject, Dr. Scully says :—
" I have made enquiries from a number of Nepalese, and I cannot
find any one now remaining who ever remembers to have
seen a wild Swan in the valley."
In "Asiatic Researches," XVIII, pt. II., 125, Hodgson gives
Cygnus as one of the Natatores which usually pass over the
valley, seldom alighting, and then only for a few hours.
At page 127 he adds :—" India, I fancy, is too hot for the
taste of the Natatores, a great majority of which seem to affect
Arctic regions, or at least high latitudes. I throw out the remark
for canvas and enquiry, and for fear I should deceive any one
by the display of the genus Cygnus at the head of my list, I
must add that the wild Swan was never seen here (valley of