2. +- M U T E SW.
D e s c r i p t i o n .
fkins of the body are worn by the inhabitants; befides which, that
of the legs, taken off whole, is ufed for purfes, and appears not
unlike Jhagreen,
This fpecies has a lharp loud cry, which it chiefly makes
while flying, and may be heard a great way off, frequently when
fo high in the air as to be out of fight *. The wind-pipe is of a
Angular conftrudtion, entering the cheft a little way; from thence
reflected in form of a trumpet j after which it enters a fecond
time, when, dividing into two branches, it goes on to join the
lungs j\ It is perhaps from this ftrufture that the bird is enabled
to produce fo ftrong a voice; whereas in the next, commonly
called the tame fpecies, the wind-pipe enters at once into' the lungs,
the confequence of which is, that the utmoft noife it can make
is a mere bifs.
A n a s C y g n u s m a n fu e tu s , Lin. Syfi. i . . p . 1 9 4 , §f—Faun. Suec. N ° 1 0 7 . 0—
Brun. N ° 44.— Kram. El. p . 3 3 8 . 2 . ß.— Fri/cb. p i . 1 5 2 .
L e C y g n e , Brif. Orn. vi. p . 2 8 8 . 11 ■■—Buf. Oif. i x . p . 3 . p i . 1.— PI. EnL
913-
T a m e S w a n , Rail Syn. p . 1 3 6 . A . 1 .— Will. Orn.p. 3 5 5 . p i . 6 9 .— Albin, i i i .
p i . 9 6 .— Edw. p i . 1 5 0 ( t h e h e a d . )— Br. Zool. i i . N ° 2 6 5 . p i . 6 0 .
M u t e S w a n , Aril. Zool. N ° 4 7 0 .
Br. Mu/. Lev. Mu/.
n rH is differs from the wbiftling Swan in being bigger : weight
about twenty-five pounds. The bill red 5 the tip and fides
black ; and at the bafe on the forehead a callous knob: the plumage
the fame in every particular as the former.
* Hift. Loui/. i i . p . 1 1 3 .— Swans in f l y i n g f o l lo w o n e a n o th e r fo c l o f e l y , t h a t
th e bill o f t h e o n e l a y s o n th e tail o f t h e fo r em o f t .— Hiß. de Lyon, i . p . 2 1 2 ,
f Will. Orn. p. 356. 357.
s This
This is found wild in Rujjia and Sibiria, mod plentiful in the
laft. Arrives later from the fouth, and does not fpread fo far
north*. Thofe about the fouthern part of the Cafpian Sea are
very large, and much efteemed for the ufe of the table. The
Swan is held in high veneration by the Mahometans t-
In England this fpecies is very common in every gentleman’s
garden where there is water, being kept as an ornament. They
generally lay from fix to eight large whitilh eggs, and fit near
two months. Seen on the Thames in vaft plenty, where they are
efteemed as royal property, it being accounted felony to fteal the
eggs; by this means the encreafe is fecured, and prove a delightful
ornament to the whole length of that river, from that part
where the traffic of the metropolis ceafes, quite to its fource. In
the reign of Edward IV. the eftimation they were held in was
fuchj that “ no one that polfefled a freehold of lefs than clear
“ yearly value offive marks,” was permitted even to keep any.
On the river Trent are alfo in vaft numbers; but no where more
plenty than on the falt-water inlet of the fea, near Abbotjbury, in
Dorfietjhire J.
The young Swans, called Cygnets, were formerly much efteemed;
and are faid at prefent to be fattened, at Norwich, about
Chrifimas,' and fold for a guinea apiece §.
I will here wave mentioning the fong, fee. of the Swan-, that
antient fi&ion, fo beautifully recorded by the- old Poets-, our
friend Mr. Pennant• having molt elegantly touched thereon in his
Britijh Zoology.
Nothing can exceed the beauty and elegance with which the
Swan rows itfelf in the water, throwing itfelf, before the fpefta-
P l ACE AND
Manners.
H
m l
Arä* Zool* t Dec. RuJT* iii. p* 77. J Br* Zool*