The DICT Development Group

  Hooper \Hoop"er\, n. (Zool.) [So called from its note.]
     The European whistling, or wild, swan ({Olor cygnus); --
     called also hooper swan, whooping swan, and elk. Hoopoe

  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. (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.
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     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.
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     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.
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     Swan+goose+(Zool.),+a+bird+of+India+({Cygnopsis+cygnoides">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.
        [1913 Webster]