Found 1 items, similar to sthenelides melancorypha.
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Sthenelides melancorypha
Swan
\Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic
birds belonging to
Cygnus,
Olor, and allied genera of
the subfamily
Cygnin[ae]. They have a large and strong
beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The European white, or mute, swan (
Cygnus gibbus),
which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
of the genus
Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
(
Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (
O. Columbianus
), and the trumpeter swan (
O. buccinator
). The Australian black swan (
Chenopis atrata
) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
South American black-necked swan (
Sthenelides melancorypha
) is a very beautiful and graceful
species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
double bright rose-colored knob.
[1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
Avon.
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3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
[1913 Webster]
Swan goose (Zo["o]l.), a bird of India (
Cygnopsis cygnoides
) resembling both the swan and the goose.
Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
[1913 Webster]