MUTE SWAN. 65 



The swan's nest, from it sample dimensions, is always 

 a conspicuous object, whether placed amongst the rank 

 herbage on the river's bank, at the mouth of a marsh 

 drain, or on the little islands and reedy margins of 

 the broads themselves ; and from the summit of that 

 littered mass the sitting bird commands all approaches 

 whilst her mate keeps guard below. To my mind an 

 old male swan never looks more beautiful than when, 

 thus "on duty," he sails forth from the margin of the 

 stream to meet intruders ; with his head and neck 

 thrown back between his snowy pinions,* and every 

 feather quivering with excitement, he drives through 

 the rippling water, contenting himself, if unmolested, 

 with a quiet assertion of his rights, but with loud 

 hisses and threatening actions resenting an attack. 

 When the young, too, under the joint convoy of their 

 parents, have taken to the water, the actions of both 

 birds are full of grace and vigour, and the deep call 

 notes of the old pair mingle with the soft whistlings 

 of their downy nestlings. What prettier sight presents 

 itself upon our inland waters than such a group desport- 

 ing themselves in the bright sunshine of a summer's 

 day, when the pure whiteness of the old birds' feathers 

 contrasts with the green background of reeds and 

 rushes, and the little grey cygnets on their mother's 

 back are peeping with bright bead-like eyes from the 

 shelter of her spotless plumes ? This habit of taking the 

 young on her back is not, as some have supposed, 

 adoi^ted only as a means of safety when crossing a 

 strong current, but is a method of brooding her young 

 on the water, very commonly practised by the female 



* Waterton, with his accustomed power of observation, points 

 out that " the snow white feathers in the wing receive additional 

 beauty by the muscular power which the swan possesses of raising 

 them without extending the wing itself." 



