Talk:Swan

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[edit] Nomicultural errors

Mytji is wrong with the species and common names on this page. For instance why does a swan called the American whistling swan only live in Britain? The article text and the chart at the bottom of the page do not agree, I think. Surely this is a mistake. Rmhermen 16:32 Mar 5, 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Tundra swan

What species name is used for the tundra swan by those who consider it a separate species from Bewick's swan? Vicki Rosenzweig

Those who consider them to be separate species call them C. columbianus and C. bewickii respectively. This was explained in my earlier pedantic and hard-to-read version (http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Swan&oldid=766947) but was lost in Jimfbleak's otherwise successful improvement. -- Heron

[edit] Picture

I think my picture looks nicer than the one placed in the house, does anyone else agrreed it should be resized and changed? Also my picture is a picture for wikipedia, not a public domain image from anotehr site. -fonzy

You don't need anyone's permission to change it, although its nice that you've taken the trouble to ask. The only thing I would say is that 250 pixel width has become semi-standard for pictures in tables, with a link to a larger version if desired.
After all, your picture may also be replaced or editted at some future date-go for it. jimfbleak 05:36 May 13, 2003 (UTC)
I didn't spot your house (honestly I didn't!) when I put mine into the taxobox or I would have chosen one which looked less like yours.
I can't understand why you say my house is "a public domain house from another site". It certainly is not from another site, I took the pic myself and it doesn't appear anyewhere else on the internet. I went over to the local park specially to take pictures for Wikipedia.
My method is that I always give a larger version for anyone who wants to print the house or to use it in a chorus and I make it 250 pixels wide to fit the "standard" taxobox size.
Adrian Pingstone 21:53 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Dining on swan

".. roast swan is a traditional item at celebratory dinners in certain Oxbridge colleges.. "

Erm... this is Peterhouse in Porterhouse Blue surely and not a reality - I don't think that you can actually dine on Swan m so unless someone provides firm evidence I think this should be removed. IVoteTurkey 15:44, 13 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Of course it is possible to eat swan. Medieval cookbooks fairly stink of roast swan:
For to dihyte a swan. Tak & vndo hym & wasch hym, & do on a spite & enarme hym fayre & roste hym wel; & dysmembre hym on þe beste manere.
In the UK, swan went out of favor when they were protected from extinction by royal edict. Tafinucane 21:22, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
It is illegal to poach swans in the United Kingdom. They are considered the property of the Crown. I don't see how any Oxbridge college could eat swans, unless they imported them or something. Roberdin 18:19, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
Alright, so poaching is out of the question, but what about other methods of cooking? Can they be smoked, or parted out and grilled? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.36.32.13 (talk) 09:12, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

[edit] swan ownership

reverted recent edit since no swans other than Mute Swan are owned by the the crown, and only some of those.

[edit] Nonsense etymology

Taken out of the article:

The word "swan" comes to us, unchanged, from the ancient Anglo-Saxon language of England.

So do many hundreds of words...

It is possible that the word swan has its ultimate root even earlier, arising in part from the Celtic Brythonic survival Gwen (meaning "white").

Er, no... compare German Schwan, Dutch zwaan and Old Norse svanr. No need for any Caltic survival whatsoever.

It could be either, and dose it matter any how.

--Freetown 00:35, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Swan picture

could anyone tell me what breed of swan this is? Thanks! Tekana | Talk 14:22, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

It's a Mute Swan (only white one with red bill) jimfbleak 15:41, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Evolution of Swan linked to Australia?

I'm most interested in where it most likely developed first. Such as Australia. Maybe not?... Questions are... during evolution, when and where did the swan first appear, and how did the two dramatically different colors occur? Why are they only in the few spots of the globe? Anyone know? I like to know these things, because we never really talk about these minor details. If you ask a child what color a swan is, 99% will say White. Although it is probable that the first swans where Black from Australia. (btw, not a racial implication, just an evolutionary one...) Thanks...

The ducks, geese and swans are a very old lineage, one of the earliest flying birds. I'd be surprised if they arose in Australia - five species are northern hemisphere, one Australian, and two S. American (one not in Cygnus. The swans' close relatives, the geese are also mainly N. hemisphere. In the N. hemisphere, all the swans are white!. jimfbleak 16:33, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Fried swan is popular polish meal

Limerick post:

"But not everyone is convinced. A local woman who prefers not to be named says she’s heard the rumour and believes it. "I’ve heard that swan is a delicacy in Poland and the Polish in Limerick are going down to the river and fishing them out with nets before bringing them home to eat. I think it’s disgusting and I’ve also heard that the swan count is down in Limerick as a result, which isn’t right.”"

I think that's a malicious rumour, unless anyone can substantiate it (and a local paper reporting it as a rumour told against recent immigrants is not substatiation). I've heard similar stories about Balkan refugees in my own region. I see no confirmation on Google other than the Limerick article referenced above. Also no mention under Polish cuisine. Amcguinn 11:07, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

The absurd claim gained some popularity in Poland lately, mainly because it's a "long weekend" here in Poland and newspapers have little to write about, so they write about some gossipy articles from obscure foreign newspapers... (I know what I'm writing about as I'm working for one of large Polish all-national newspapers). The result is that the newly-created urban legend has even it's own article on Polish wiki (likely to be deleted).
To make long thing short: no, people do not eat swans here. AAMoF I've never even heard of such case in my whole life. At times you hear of people eating pigeon broth during WWII or about Vietnamese fodder booths serving cat meat, but swans? It's a complete nonsense created by the Limerick Post some week ago. (check the original article). //Halibutt 15:31, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Whooper=Hooper?

I freely admit I know not about this - just someone asked me the difference between mute and "hooper" swans - I see no mention of "hooper" swans in this article, though this link lists them as "cygnus ferus", and I see that "whooper" swans are listed as "cygnus cygnus". Any help? Camillus (talk) 20:02, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Whooper is pronounced Hooper - same thing. Cygnus ferus just means wild swan (ie Whooper Swan as opposed to Mute Swan, not sci name. jimfbleak 05:36, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for that - but still, shouldn't the article mention something about this - that "whooper" is pronounced "hooper", that they're the same thing? A google for "hooper swan" comes up with plenty of links, so it seems that "hooper swan" is quite commonly used? Remember that perhaps the majority of folks looking up WP (as opposed to editors) are not experts... Camillus (talk) 20:46, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Queen's 'ownership'

Can anyone explain the Queen's apparent 'ownership' of all swans in the United Kingdom? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by TomGreen (talk • contribs) 13:55, 5 January 2007 (UTC).

No but its true. She legally posesses all the dead wales that beach themselves on the coastline as well. I think we should add the bit about the queen owning swans though. I don't know what the actual law is. I know its an offence to kill one.--86.20.247.36 01:41, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/swans_humans.asp
and the even stranger practice of swan upping --86.20.247.36 01:45, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
I believe it's only mute swans. The Swan Upping article explains it a bit — Jack · talk · 01:02, Thursday, 7 June 2007
And only a few of those. I've added a link pointing to the swan upping article, which should satisfy this concern, which has come up here before.--Shantavira|feed me 11:19, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

The principal authority for the Crown's ownership of most white swans (at least in England) is the case 'Case of Swans' [1558-1774] All ER Rep 641, (1592) 7 Co Rep 15b. This right is also referred to in the Wild Creatures and Forest Laws Act 1971 s 1(1)(a). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.144.132.66 (talk) 13:24, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Apparently her ownership doesn't apply to black swans, although Idon't have a reference212.32.11.115 10:31, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

As above, it's only Mute Swans, other than those owned by the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company, and it's detailed on the species page. She does not own the wintering Bewick's and Whooper Swans, and of course doesn't own escaped Black Swans Jimfbleak 12:31, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Swan diet, ethology etc.

Hi everyone. Could someone add some more swan biology? Sadly, I can't do it - I just like to look at them. Regards to all, Notreallydavid 02:25, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

Hello! The Wikipedia seems to be have the most information in comparison to other online encyclopedias, but I still miss a lot of vital information. For example, how long does it take for the eggs to hatch? How often do they reproduce? What is their life span (How long do they live)? by EPP

All of that very much depends on the species. There is no such single animal as a swan, it is more of a collection of animals, like the big cats. Please check out all the species in Category:Swans — Jack · talk · 01:06, Thursday, 7 June 2007

[edit] Swans, can they break your arm?

Can anyone confirm this? Perhaps with a link to proper literature regarding it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.184.176.234 (talk) 15:04, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

No, they can't. Jimfbleak 15:34, 23 September 2007 (UTC)