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Show 508 MR. P. L. SCLATER O N T H E [June 15, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 666). There are examples in several of the Continental gardens also, but I am not aware that they have bred in any case. 10. CYGNUS NIGRICOLLIS (Gm.). Black-necked Swan. Cyynus niyricollis, Wolf, Scl. Zool. Sk. i. t. 48; Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1876, p. 370. Hab. Antarctic America. " The first importation of the Black-necked Swan was effected by the exertions of Admiral Hornby. When this officer was in command on the Pacific station he succeeded in sending home at different periods, to the late Earl of Derby, eight individuals of this species, of which six were living at the dispersion of the Knowsley collection in 1851 *. The present Earl of Derby presented a pair of these birds to Her Majesty the Queen, and the two remaining pairs passed into the possession of the Zoological Society. They, however, for several seasons made no attempt at reproduction, and one of them having died, the apparent chance of continuing the species depended on one pair. Fortunately, in the year 1857, these not only made a nest, as had been done in 1856, but hatched out four young birds, which rapidly arrived at full size and colour, and at the end of the autumn could scarcely be distinguished from their parents. The same success occurred in 1858, with the fortunate and singular result that the four birds of 1857 were all males, and the birds of 1858 females." (Sclater and Wolf, Zool. Sketches, i. sub tab. xlviii.) Since this was written (in 1861)numerous importations of the Black-necked Swan have taken place, and the species may be considered completely established in Europe. We have eight examples of it now in the Gardens. The subjoined list gives the dates of the hatchings. Dates of Hatching of Black-necked Swans. 1857. 1858. 1859. 1865. 1866. 1867. June 23rd. July 3rd. June 27th. May 19th. „ 4th. 9th. 1868. 1873. 1877. 1878. 1879. June 22nd July 3rd. „ 10th. „ 20th. May 23rd. F. Subfam. V. ANATIN.E. Genus DENDROCYCNA2. Examples of the eight out of the ten known species of this genus have been exhibited in the Society's Gardens ; but the only instance of any one of them breeding took place in 1872, when a pair oi Dendrocycna fulva mated and two young ones were hatched. 1 See Knowsley Sale-list, p. 44. 2 This generic name being a compound of KVKVOS, should clearly be written thus, not Dendrocygna, as usually spelt. |