from the Mute
Swan, does not, however, make it so clear whether it was really the
present species or Bewick's Swan; from the measurement of the full
length (5 ft. 3 in.) given, however, it would appear that it was the
present species, as that would be full length for it, while Bewick's
Swan would be about one-third less; some description of the bill,
however, would have been more satisfactory. It would certainly have been
interesting to have had some more particulars about this Swan, as this
last severe winter (1878 and 1879) has been very productive of Swans in
the south-west of England, the greater number of those occurring in this
county of Somerset, however, curiously enough, having been Bewick's
Swan, which is generally considered the rarer species. Though Swans have
been so exceptionally numerous in various parts of England this winter,
the above-mentioned is the only occurrence I have heard of in the
Channel Islands.

The Hooper is included in Professor Ansted's list, but marked as only
occurring in Guernsey. There are two specimens in the Museum, one adult
and one young bird.

139. BEWICK'S SWAN. _Cygnus minor_, Keys and Blasius. French, "Cygne de
Bewick."[26]--I have very little authority for including Bewick's Swan
in my list of Guernsey birds; Mr. MacCulloch, however, writes me word,
"The Common Hooper has visited us in severe winters, and is certainly
not the _only_ species of _wild_ Swan that has been shot here." In all
probability the other must have been Bewick's Swan, which no doubt has
occasionally occurred, perhaps more frequently than is supposed, though
not so frequently as the Hooper. Probably the difference between the two
is not sufficiently known; it may, therefore, be as well to point out
the distinctions. Bewick's Swan is much smaller than the Hooper, but the
great outward distinction is, that in the Hooper the yellow at the base
of the bill extends to and includes the nostrils, whereas in Bewick's
Swan the yellow occupies a very small portion of the base of the bill,
not extending so far as the nostrils: this is always sufficient to
distinguish the two, and is almost the only exterior distinction, but on
dissection the anatomical structure, especially of the trachea, shows
material difference between the two.

Professor Ansted includes Bewick's Swan in his list, and marks it as
occurring in Guernsey. There is, however, no specimen at present in the
Museum.

140. WILD DUCK. _Anas bosch