744 



SWAN. 



elements, the quantity of matter and the velocity, and 

 that while the effect increases only as the quantity of 

 matter, while it does so as the square of the velocity, 

 we can easily understand how soon rapidity of motion 

 will make up for any inferior weight in the moving 

 instrument. One-fourth the quantity of matter mov- 

 ing with four times the velocity has an effect in the 

 proportion of sixteen to four ; that is, it has an effect 

 four times as great. It is upon this principle that a 

 piece of candle may be shot from a gun or pistol, so 

 as to pass clean through a deal board of considerable 

 thickness. Even this is not all, for the" small weapon 

 delivers its effect upon a much smaller portion of that 

 on which it impinges ; and in proportion as it does 

 this, the effect of it is also increased. Hence there 

 may be less exaggeration than many suppose, in the 

 allegation that the blow of the wild swan's wing can 

 knock down a hog, or hit a bird of prey, or even a 

 predatory quadruped, in so smart a style, as to make 

 them avoid a second rencontre. 



The female swan builds a large but rude nest, very 

 near the margin of the water, but on' a place where 

 there is no chance of inundation, and where she can 

 command a view of danger should it approach. From 

 the water she has nothing to fear ; and thus, if she 

 finds a little jutting promontory of the land suitable 

 to her purpose, she prefers that, and sits with her 

 head to the land, unless when the state of the weather 

 renders another position more convenient and safe. 

 The eggs vary from four to seven in number. They 

 are very thick and strong in the shell, of a rusty-brown 

 colour, and marked with white blotches about the 

 middle of their length. The incubation lasts for about 

 six weeks. The northern people, as has been said, 

 are fond of the flesh of the cygnets, or young of these 

 birds; but the adults are not relished by them, though 

 much less particular as to Inequality of their food 

 than the inhabitants of more favoured climates. They, 

 however, make considerable use of the skins, dressing 

 them with the down upon them, and sewing them 

 together, in which state they form strong and warm 

 garments ; or weaving the down into a sort of fram- 

 ing of network, in which state it is almost equally 

 warm, and exceedingly light and pliable. The down, 

 the feathers, and the quills, are also of considerable 

 "value as articles of commerce. 



THE MUTE OR TAME SWAN (C. olor~) is "the 

 swan," by way of eminence ; and, though differing 

 from the other in the particulars already alluded to, 

 it is nearly similar in the leading points of its eco- 

 nomy. It is rather shorter than the whistling swan, 

 but longer in the wings, measuring about seven feet, 

 or even a few inches more when they are fully ex- 

 tended. The body is rather thicker too in propor- 

 tion to the length, and it is, upon the average, a 

 heavier bird when full grown. The bill of the mute 

 swan is of a red or salmon colour, with the margins 

 and the basal cere, which swells into a tubercle of 

 considerable size, black; the whole plumage! of the 

 mature bird, when on the water in a pure atmosphere, 

 is beautifully white ; and few of the living produc- 

 tions of nature are more beautiful than swans, espe- 

 cially when they are upon the small expanses of clear 

 \vater, which occur in many of the rich little valleys 

 in the south of England. Though a majestic crea- 

 ture in its motion upon the water, the appearance of 

 the swan harmonises best with water which is clear 

 and tranquil, and grasses and green meadows add 

 greatly to the effect. 



In a state of nature this species is not so migratory 

 or so polar in the breeding season as the whistling- 

 swan. Some of them, especially in the east of Europe 



and in Siberia, where the seasons run more into ex- 

 tremes than they do in Britain, are compelled to 

 move southward when the weather is severe : and 

 even in Britain they are sometimes driven from the 

 waters of particular places by the severity of the 

 weather ; but where the waters are open they con- 

 tinue on the same grounds for the whole year round, 

 and where they are placed upon ornamental waters 

 in pleasure-grounds, or even in the close vicinity of 

 cities, they show no very strong disposition to shift to 

 more sequestered haunts, at any season of the year. 

 In places that are much frequented they soon become 

 very familiar ; indeed they are far from being timid 

 birds under any circumstances. They appear to be 

 quite confident in that power which nature has given 

 them ; and, as they have little to fear from enemies, 

 they are not much given to be pugnacious, at least in 

 ordinary times of the year. When, however, they 

 have nests, they not only defend them with great 

 bravery, but attack, in the most resolute manner, any 

 animal that approaches, not excepting man himself. 

 The female is a close sitter during her incubation, 

 which is about the same length as that of the whistling 

 swan ; and while the female sits, the male is very 

 assiduous in watching for the safety of the family. 

 He is ready to resist, and by the most vigorous means 

 to repel, every intruder, not excepting his own species, 

 who cannot come within a short distance of the nest 

 without being attacked. Severe contests often take 

 place between the males upon these occasions, more 

 especially if, as is sometimes the case, there is an odd 

 or unpaired male upon the same water. This odd 

 one is not the assailant ; for, as he is not in the guar- 

 dianship of a female and nest, he does not appear to 

 have the same excitement as those which have this 



