102 Death of' Northern Birds. 



thern birds, as the musical swan, it is a common saying, that it 

 announces its death by melodious notes, which have been called 

 the swan''s death-song. This, however, is entirely the creature 

 of the fancy of a southern poet, and while it is repeated in the 

 writings of the learned, it is quite unknown to the nations among 

 whom the Cygnus musicus lives and dies. I have never heard 

 the Icelanders hint in the least that this bird emitted any sound 

 at its death. The opinion takes its origin from the harmonious 

 trumpet-like sounds, which issue from its complicated wind-pipe 

 when it flies high in the air, and from which it has obtained its 

 trivial name. As it is chiefly heard in clear moonlight nights, 

 these sounds may excite the fancy, in the same way that the 

 nocturnal sounds of the wild owl have given rise to the story of 

 the hunting of King Waldemar, or the Wild Hunter. 



Most birds, however, die neither of age nor disease, but be- 

 come a prey to their enemies. It is wisely provided by nature, 

 that one animal should prey upon another, that their carrion 

 might not contaminate the air, nor their reproduction be dispro- 

 portionate to their means of subsistence. Yet, on land, this mu- 

 tual murder is by no means carried on to the same extent as at 

 sea. Birds are not in the north so much exposed to birds of 

 prey as in more temperate countries. In Iceland, there are on- 

 ly three proper rapacious species, with the exception of some of 

 the omnivorous forest and aquatic birds, which occasionally be- 

 come true birds of prey, as the raven, which attacks ptarmigans 

 and pigeons ; Larus marinus, which attacks sick, and Lestris 

 catarractes, even vigorous, birds ; Lestris parasitica, which 

 preys on eggs, &c. The polar fox is their most active enemy 

 among the mammalia ; and a solitary Uria or Jlca, when diving 

 to the bottom of the sea, may be snapped up by the sea-horse. 

 Man, however, is their most dangerous enemy, who, taking ad- 

 vantage of their tameness and sociability at the breeding time, 

 every year destroys a greater number of individuals than all their 

 other enemies taken together. 



When birds are aware of danger, they are affected with Fear, 

 and being destitute of the moral self-command given by reason, 

 they take refuge in flight when it is not necessary for their safe- 

 ty. They sometimes manifest alarm by a cry which, in some 

 domestic birds, as the singing tribes, the swallow and siskin, is 



