WILD, OR WHISTLING SWAN. 369 



of its beauty; aiding its pompous progress by gently raising 

 its snow white wings to catch the sportive breeze, wherein 

 it wantons with luxuriant ease, queen of its native element. 

 In short, all conspires to shroud the Swan, however mute, 

 with its long acknowledged and classic perfection. And as 

 if aware of its high and ancient pretensions, it still, as in 

 former ages, frequents the now neglected streams of the 

 Meander and the Strymon ; with an air of affected lan- 

 guor they are yet seen silently sailing by the groves of 

 Paphos, though no longer cherished by its Beauteous 

 Queen : — and still, as ever, altered as the scene may be to 

 nature's rudest form, 



The Swaii, with arched neck 

 Between her white wings manthng proudly, rows 

 Her state with oary feet -^ * * * * * 



and knows no change but that of season. 



The Hooper emits his notes only when flying, or calling 

 on his mate or companions ; the sound is something like 

 'whoogJi, \olioogh, very loud and shrill, but by no means dis- 

 agreeable, when heard high in the air, and modulated by 

 the winds. The natives of Iceland indeed compare it, very 

 flatteringly, to the notes of a violin. Allowance must be 

 made, however, for this predilection, when it is remembered 

 that they hear this cheerful clarion at the close of a long 

 and gloomy winter, and when, in the return of the Swan, 

 they listen to the harbinger of approaching summer ; every 

 note must be, therefore, melodious, which presages the 

 speedy thaw, and the return of life and verdure to their 

 gelid coast. 



It is to this species alone that the ancients could attribute 

 the power of melody; — the singular faculty of tuning its 

 dying dirge from among the reedy marshes of its final re- 

 treat. In a low, plaintive, and stridulous voice, in the 

 moment of death, it murmured forth its last prophetic sigh. 



