What is "cygnus gibbus"

Mute \Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]

1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.

   All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven.
   --Milton.

   Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.

2. Incapable of speaking; dumb.
   --Dryden.

3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.

4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.

   Mute swan (Zo["o]l.), a European wild white swan ( Cygnus olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.

   Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.

   Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.

   They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other.
   --Shak.

   All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
   --Milton.

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.

   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.

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 (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.