The principal strength of the Swan does not lie in its beak, but in its wings--a most effective offensive weapon, of which it takes every advantage. In spite of its bad qualities, however, the Swan is the most ornamental of all our aquatic birds. Its beak is flesh colour, edged with black, and its plumage white as snow. Its song, or rather its cry, is indeed far from being harmonious. It is a dull and harsh sibilation, not at all agreeable to listen to. Some of the poets, however, have not believed the fable which attributes to these birds a sonorous and melodious voice. Virgil perfectly well knew how hoarse the note of the Swan really was-- "Dant sonitum rauci per stagna loquacia cycni." Lucretius also says-- "Parvus cycni canor." THE WHOOPING SWAN. ENGLISH SYNONYMS.--Whistling Swan: Montagu, Selby, Jenyns. Whooping Swan: McGillivray. Wild Swan: Hooper, Elk. LATIN SYNONYMS.--_Anas cygnus ferus_: Linn. _Anas cygnus_: Latham, Temminck. _Cygnus ferus_: Selby, Jenyns. _Cygnus musicus_: Bonaparte, McGillivray. FRENCH SYNONYMS.--_Cygne à bec jaune_: Temminck. _Cygne sauvage_ of authors. This is, in all probability, the Swan so celebrated among the ancients. It is found in the northern regions of Europe and Asia; residing in summer within the Arctic circle, and migrating southwards and visiting Holland, France, and the British Islands in winter, although occasionally breeding in the north of Scotland. Southward, it extends to Barbary and Egypt; eastward, it wanders as far as Japan. The note of the Wild Swan is a sort of whoop, uttered several times in succession--a hoarse, hard, and rather discordant cry--and this has given it the name we have adopted; for it is difficult to imagine the grounds on which the Prince of Canino gave it the name of _Cygnus musicus_.