By Ferd. J. Stidow, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 



87 



Swan Breeding 



The increasing demand for ornamental birds for parks and country estates is the basis of 

 the interest in swans. Given a suitable location, such as a natural pond, with some wild 

 marsh and meadow nearby and swans are easily raised. They are fond of water, plants and 

 roots. Also of fish spawn, hence should not be kept in a valuable fish preserve. 



The beautiful white or black swan is a very large fowl, the pure white being the most at- 

 tractive both in form and color. These birds are domestic, same as geese, and of extremely 



hardy constitution. The nest is built by both 

 male and female, usually made on the bank of 

 the pond ; it consists of a mass of sticks or twigs, 

 raised sufficiently high to prevent its being 

 overflowed during any rise of the water. 

 They require plenty of room and a secluded 

 place where they can go unmolested from 

 dogs or animals of prey and will breed freely, 

 but when they are interfered with, they will 

 seldom lay at all. They must also be kept 

 separate during breeding season, as they are 

 very quarrelsome among themselves. Two 

 or more pair in one pen will never do. A 

 female swan lays from 12 to 18 eggs in 

 March, April and May, and the eggs hatch 

 within nearly six weeks. The young are ted the same as you would a flock of geese. They 

 are very profitable birds to raise, command high prices and in great demand. 



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, 

 though the male is, of course, the more powerful and courageous. Both birds help to prepare 

 the nest, the male chiefly gathering the materials, while the female seems to take the chief 

 part in the actual construction. Six to nine eggs are laid, very thick in shell, and generally 

 of a dirty white color, sometimes pale green. The time of incubation has been differently 

 stated, fixing it at thirty-five days, though some say 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 take care of themselves. 



BLACK SWAN. 



