72 



MUTE SWAN. 



TAME SWAN. 

 PLATE CLXXXVIII. PIG. II. 



Cygnus olor, JENTNS. 



Cygnus mansuetus, GOULD. 



Anas olor, PEKSTANT. BEWICK. 



THE Swan disposes its nest on the ground, near the water side, 

 or on some mound on an island in the river or lake. It is made of 

 rushes and flags, and if the water threatens to rise, more materials, 

 which the male bird brings, and the female works in, are added to the 

 deposit under the eggs, which are thus gradually raised further out of 

 danger. 



The eggs are from five or six, to seven or eight in number, older 

 birds laying the larger, and younger the fewer numbers respectively. 

 They are of a dull greenish white colour. 



Incubation continues for from five to six weeks. After being hatched 

 for one day, the cygnets follow the guidance of their parents to the 

 water, and have but little instruction, beyond that instinctively given 

 them by nature, in the art of swimming about and feeding themselves. 

 Still, f The attention,' says Meyer, 'bestowed by the old birds upon the 

 young is incessant; and when fatigued by the strength of the stream, 

 or requiring to be removed to a far distance, too great for their young 

 capacity, the hen bird takes the young ones on her back, which she 

 accomplishes by lowering herself a little in the water, and occasionally 

 assisting them to ascend with her foot, and in this manner they are 

 carried in safety to some more desirable spot. The shape of the Swan's 

 back, which is very flat, is well adapted for this purpose; and when 

 her wings are raised, the young ones repose in the most beautiful and 

 safe cradle imaginable.' 



