Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



sounds of a violin. Pallas the ornithologist 

 says they resemble silver bells and Olafsson 

 says that in the long Polar night it is delight- 

 ful to hear a flock passing overhead, the 

 mixture of sounds resembling trumpets and 

 violins. Another peculiarity of this swan that 

 could not escape observation is its tyrannical 

 nature ; it quarrels and fights with other birds 

 and is a nuisance when kept in captivity, if 

 other birds are present. Moreover it is a very 

 sly bird and keeps the sharpest watch on the 

 hunter, so that even with firearms it is hard 

 to approach within killing distance. Its ag- 

 gressiveness toward other birds, its apparent 

 wisdom and its known habit of flying by 

 night make it the natural rival of the owl as 

 a symbol of moon and night gods. 



The gray color as of cygnets and the swan 

 shapes of the Graiai, as well as their terrifying 

 names and service as watchmen of the Gor- 

 gons, explain very well an allusion to the 

 " swan of hell" in the Kalevala in the episode 

 198 



