ID MUTE SWANT. 



larity in the form of the trachea of this species, 

 which passes straight into the lungs. 



The tame Swan is found, in its wild state, in the 

 great seas of the interior of the eastern countries of 

 Europe and of Asia ; and domesticated, it occurs in 

 almost every European country. In the river Thames 

 they are in great plenty, where they are royal pro- 

 perty, and it is felony to steal their eggs. At Ab- 

 botsbury, in Dorsetshire, there was formerly a noble 

 swannery, the property of the Earl of Ilchester, where 

 six or seven hundred birds were kept ; but of late 

 years this collection has been much diminished. In 

 former times, and previously to the dissolution of 

 monasteries, they frequently amounted to more than 

 double the number. 



Swans are supposed to live to a great age, but no 

 satisfactory evidence has yet been brought forward to 

 prove the assertion : they are strong and active birds, and 

 will swim faster than a man can walk ; and while their 

 young are incapable of protecting themselves, they are 

 at times extremely fierce, and have been known to 

 throw down and trample upon youths of fifteen or six- 

 teen years of age. It is related that a female, while in 

 the act of sitting, observed a fox swimming towards her 

 from the opposite shore ; she instantly darted into 

 the water, and having kept him at bay for a con- 

 siderable time with her wings, at last succeeded in 

 drowning him ; after which, in the sight of several 

 persons, she returned in triumph. 



They make their nest of grass, among reeds ; and 

 in February begin to lay, depositing a white egg 

 every other day till there are six or eight : they are 



