382 THE MUTE SWAN. 



by fairly trying the Hooper, of whose tameability Linnaeus 

 speaks so highly ; it is less graceful, however, bearing more 

 resemblance in its attitudes and carriage to the Canada Goose. 

 There is also the Polish Swan, that produces white Cygnets; 

 and Bewick's Swan, if to be procured alive, might originate 

 a stock of great value for limited pieces of water, since it 

 averages in size one-third less than the Cygnus Olor. None 

 of the species can be less domestic than the Mute Swan, if it 

 would really open its heart to us; but, being a "game" bird, 

 of great pluck, it carries off matters with a high hand, and 

 temporarily conceals its hatred of the trammels in which it is 

 compelled to live ; the very webs of its feet being sometimes 

 slit, to retard it in its unkind chase after other Water Fowl. 

 It does not shrink from the severest weather which we experi- 

 ence, but faces the pelting storm, as if anchored, in the most 

 exposed parts of the lake. For those to whom the amount of 

 purchase-money is of little importance, there is the Black 

 Swan, a creature of much gentler manners, less in size, less 

 tyrannical to other birds, and indeed altogether taking in its 

 ways. It is strange that their price should still continue so 

 high, as they breed in this country, frequently, though not 

 abundantly, under circumstances that must be considered un- 

 favourable. I suspect, from the localities in Australia where 

 they were originally found, that they would thrive all the 

 better for an occasional marine diet, and like the Sheldrake, 

 enjoy now and then a treat of cockles and shrimps, with per- 

 haps a barrowful of sea-weed as the joint on which to cut 

 and come again. 



Those who wish to make themselves acquainted with the 

 habits and dispositions, as well as the mere figures and de- 

 scriptions of animals, should be informed that all living crea- 

 tures cannot be divided into two distinct ranks of Wild and 

 Tame, as, for example, the Horse and the Zebra among 

 quadrupeds, and the Blue Rock Pigeon and the Ringdove 



