654 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



SWANS. 



LIKE wild geese and ducks, swans have a wide range, being found in all regions but 

 those lying in the torrid zone. Writers mention at least two species that are com 

 mon to both Europe and America, besides others more local in their character. Mr. 

 Wright says of these birds: &quot;Every race (we believe without exception) is naturally migra 

 tory in its habits, though many individuals will remain, especially in the more temperate 

 regions, in the same localities throughout the year, only taking short nights to and fro. In 

 emigration they assume more or less constantly the V-shaped phalanx, which thus seems 

 common to all aquatic birds. Their powers of flight are considerable when once fairly 

 raised in the air, but the rising appears to be difficult and awkward. They almost always, if 

 not invariably, rise from the water, striking down with both wings and feet, and thus pro 

 ceeding, half flying and half splashing, for some twenty or thirty yards before they can 

 fairly raise themselves; after which, however, they frequently attain a great height, Franklin 

 stating that he has seen them in the Polar regions several thousand feet above the earth. 

 They always descend, also, into the water, approaching it in a slanting direction, and stretch 

 ing out their broad, webbed feet to check their speed at the moment they enter the familiar 

 element. 



Swans generally pair for life, their whole behavior offering a beautiful example of con 

 jugal fidelity. The two birds show the greatest affection for each other, always swimming in 

 company, and caressing each other with their bills and necks, in the most interesting manner; 

 and should either be attacked, the other will show fight in the most vigorous manner, though 

 of course the male is the most powerful and courageous. Both birds help to prepare the nest, 

 the male chiefly getting the materials, while the female seems to take the chief part in the 

 actual construction. A swan s nest is an enormous affair, being built up of a large mass of 

 coarse water plants as a foundation, which is lined with fine grasses. In this, six to nine 

 eggs are generally laid, which are, of course, very thick in the shell, and generally of a dirty 

 white color, sometimes dirty pale green. 



The time of incubation has been differently stated, but we believe Bechstein to be right 

 in fixing it at thirty-five days, though some have said forty-two. The young, when hatched, 

 are very thickly covered with down, and are generally taken to the water by the mother 

 when only a day or two old. There they are watched over by both parents with the greatest 

 care until grown enough to provide for themselves.&quot; We know of a pair of swans in a 

 park of one of our large cities, a few years since, that exhibited the greatest affection for 

 each other. After a time the female sickened and died. The male drooped for a time, and 

 was finally found dead one morning, evidently having pined himself to death over the 

 loss of his mate. There are in all about ten species of swans known, most of which are 

 pure white in plumage. The flesh is not good except when the birds are young. They are 

 the most graceful upon the water of all aquatic fowls, and are a rare ornament to either 

 public or private parks. 



The Mute Swan. This is a native of Northern, Asia and Europe, and is one of the 

 largest and most graceful of all the swan species. The neck is long and slender, the bill red, 

 and the protuberance at the base black; the legs and feet a dark brown or gray. The 

 plumage is pure white throughout. 



This bird is not mute, as its name would indicate, but has a very soft, low voice, some 

 what melancholy in tone. The cygnets, or young swans, when first hatched, and for some 

 time after, are gray, and may be frequently seen on the back of one of the parents when they 

 are swimming in the water. There is another large white swan, closely resembling this 



