214 LETTERS TO MARCO xxxn 



present, and their ways are very pretty to 

 watch. Birds are not, I believe, much given 

 to kissing, though we hear of " billing and 

 cooing." I think I have seen doves taking 

 each other's bills, one in another ; at any rate 

 these swans may be said to kiss, for they 

 cross and clasp each other's bills very prettily, 

 and rub and fondle their heads and necks 

 together. The torn is very gallant in defence 

 of his mate, surging round her at the ap- 

 proach of any boat or person on the bank. 

 He acted, too, in a way I remember my 

 game-cock used to do, as a sort of encour- 

 agement to a hen to take to the nest. The 

 cock would often get into the nest and turn 

 round and round in it, calling the hen all 

 the time. The tom-swan, in like manner, 

 landed on a likely spot amongst some rushes, 

 and commenced plucking dry reeds, sticks, 

 etc., which he threw over his back and 

 trampled down, evidently nest-building. The 

 hen meanwhile kept close by, swimming round 

 and round and making a sort of moaning purr, 



