402 THE DOMESTIC SWAN. 



ing the habits of these birds, whose movements are so ornamental to 

 it, and so attractive to spectators. 



The male and female are so alike in colour and in plumage, that 

 were it not for a trifling difference in size, and in the red of the beak, 

 it would be a difficult task to distinguish the one from the other. 

 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. The appearance of orange colour on the 

 heads of swans is merely accidental, and is acquired when the birds 

 are searching for food with their heads under water at the roots of 

 sedges. The impregnation is so strong, that the feathers will retain 

 the colour for months ; and this has given rise to the erroneous con- 

 jecture of its being original. 



Such is the power and size of the swan, that our golden eagle 

 itself will not dare to attack it : much less chance, then, would the 

 white-headed eagle of the United States have in combat with it. If 

 we can bring ourselves to believe the modern assertion that a swan 

 spreads its legs in order to accelerate its flight, we can easily conceive 

 that, by some magic or other, the eagle may be able to strike its 

 talons into the swan's heart, notwithstanding the bone and the mass 

 of muscle which obstruct access to that deeply-seated organ. The 

 fact is, no bird in the world ever spreads its legs in order to increase 

 the velocity of its flight. Such an act would have the very contrary 

 effect. In flight, the legs of birds (with very few exceptions) come 

 quite up to the body. In some the toes point forwards, in others 

 backwards, for obvious reasons ; and it is only when a bird is about 

 to alight on land, or on the water, that it stretches out its legs or 

 spreads its webs ; and this is done to check the descent, in order 

 that the body may escape from injury. 



Many years ago, I allowed one of my swans the full use of both 

 its wings, and great was the gratification which its aerial evolutions 

 afforded me. Its powers of flight were truly astonishing. It visited 

 all the sheets of water for many miles around ; and, being very tame, 

 it would sometimes, on its return home, alight within a few yards of 

 me, as I was standing near the margin of the water. On taking its 

 excursions into the world at large, I would often say to it in a kindly 

 tone of voice as it flew over my head, " Qui amat periculum, peribil 



