300 THE AMERICAN SWAN. 



long, thin tendons for the communication of the mus- 

 cular influence to them, and are thereby rendered light and 

 slender." (Owen.) Is there anything in all this arrange- 

 ment of bone and muscle which indicates intelligent design ? 

 Is there any thought back of it all ? Or is it simply the 

 result of blind forces residing in matter ? 



Over the wide world the Swan is the most graceful and 

 majestic bird of the waters. Strongly resembling the Goose, 

 it is differentiated by its greater elegance, which comes in 

 part from its long, slender and graceful neck, and in part 

 from its large and elaborate wings, as well as from its more 

 dignified proportions and bearing in general. Its bill is 

 noticeably larger than that of the Goose, in proportion to its 

 head, and the base of it extends to the eye. The fabled 

 song of the Swan as death approaches, though decidedly 

 beautiful, has no foundation in fact. While it has some 

 very boisterous notes, and a peculiar folding of the wind- 

 pipe and connection of it with the breast-bone and merry 

 thought, for the purpose of securing these stentorious 

 effects, its ordinary reticence, so strongly contrasting with 

 the " noisy gabbling of Geese and Duck," adds greatly to 

 its wonted dignity. Indeed, the structure of its vocal organs 

 is in no wise favorable to any musical capacity. 



To see this pure, snow-white creature in all the ease, 

 elegance and dignity of his wild and retired haunts is the 

 privilege of but few; but he may be seen domesticated, and 

 thus seeming perfectly at home on the glassy ponds of our 

 public or even private parks. His great wings, so gracefully 

 ruffled and partly elevated, make him look almost ethereal 

 as he floats along with the slow and easy strokes of his 

 large, black feet, and they also serve as a sort of sail to catch 

 the passing breeze. Frequently one foot is held up out of 

 the water and spread apart, as if it, too, were used to catch 



