384 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



to condud me to her prefence. The ancient lady 

 made me embark with her in a barge loaded with 

 neceflaries; and committing ourfelves to the courfc 

 of the flream, we landed, in a very little while, on 

 the ifland where the daughter of King Bardus re- 

 iided. This ifland was called the Ifle of Swans, 

 becaufe the birds of that name reforted thither 

 in the Spring, to make their nefts among the 

 reeds that, furround ii's lliores, and which, at 

 all feafons, fed on the anjerina -potentilla (24) pro- 

 duced there in great abundance. On our land- 

 ing, we perceived the Princefs feated under a 

 clump of alder-trees, in the midft of a down, yel- 

 lowed all over with the flowers of the anferina. 

 She was encompafled with fwans, which fhe called 

 to her, by fcattering among them the grains of 

 oats. Though fhe was under the fliade of the 

 trees, flie furpafled thofe birds in whitenefs, from 

 the purity of her complexion, and the fairnefs of 

 her ermine robe. Her hair was of the mofl beau- 

 tiful black ; and fhe wore it encircled, as well as 

 her robe, with a red-coloured ribband. Two wo- 

 men, who attended her at fome diftance, advanced 

 to meet us. The one tied our barge to the 

 branches of a willow ; and the other, taking me 

 by the hand, prefented me to her miilrefs. The 

 young Princefs made me fit down by her on the 

 grafs ; after which fhe invited me to partake with 

 lier of fome flower of millet boiled, of a duck 



roafled 



