1700 (circiter). J. Locke, in `Johnson's Dictionary' (9th edition, 1805), s.v. Swan:
"The idea which an Englishman signifies by the name Swan, is a white colour, long neck, black beak, black legs, and whole feet, and all these of a certain size, with a power of swimming in the water, and making a certain kind of noise."
1789. Governor Phillip, `Voyage,' p. 98:
"A black swan, which species, though proverbially rare in other parts of the world, is here by no means uncommon . . . a very noble bird, larger than the common swan, and equally beautiful in form . . . its wings were edged with white: the bill was tinged with red."
1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 137:
"We found nine birds, that, whilst swimming, most perfectly resembled the <i>rara avis</i> of the ancients, a black swan."
1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' p. 146:
"Large ponds covered with ducks and black swans."
1847. J. D. Lang, `Phillipsland,' p. 115:
"These extensive sheets of glassy water . . . were absolutely alive with black swans and other water fowl . . . There must have been at least five hundred swans in view at one time on one of the lakes. They were no `rara avis' there."