DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Swan n.
 1. Zool. Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygninae. 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.
 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 (Olor Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (Olor 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.
 2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.
 3. Astron. The constellation Cygnus.
 Swan goose Zool., a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides) resembling both the swan and the goose.
 Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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 Whis·tling a. & n. from Whistle, v.
 Whistling buoy. Naut. See under Buoy.
 Whistling coot Zool., the American black scoter.
 Whistling Dick. Zool. (a) An Australian shrike thrush (Colluricincla Selbii). (b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
 Whistling duck. Zool. (a) The golden-eye. (b) A tree duck.
 Whistling eagle Zool., a small Australian eagle (Haliastur sphenurus); -- called also whistling hawk, and little swamp eagle.
 Whistling plover. Zool. (a) The golden plover. (b) The black-bellied, or gray, plover.
 Whistling snipe Zool., the American woodcock.
 Whistling swan. Zool. (a) The European whooper swan; -- called also wild swan, and elk. (b) An American swan (Olor columbianus).  See under Swan.
 Whistling teal Zool., a tree duck, as Dendrocygna awsuree of India.
 Whistling thrush. Zool. (a) Any one of several species of singing birds of the genus Myiophonus, native of Asia, Australia, and the East Indies. They are generally black, glossed with blue, and have a patch of bright blue on each shoulder. Their note is a loud and clear whistle. (b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
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