MUTE SWAN 



Cygnus olor 



HE Mute Swan can scarcely lay claim to being a native 

 British bird. It was introduced into this country about 

 the twelfth century, and has since increased enormously, 

 chiefly in a semi -domesticated state, and may be met 

 with on the rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes throughout 

 Great Britain. It has never been known to breed in an 

 actually wild state in our islands, though in some places 

 it appears as a summer visitor and rears its young, leaving again with them 

 in late autumn. 



The favourite resorts of the Swan are large ponds or sheets of water 

 where there are islands covered with low shrubs or surrounded by reeds, in which 

 it can build its nest and rear its young in safety. It arrives at its summer 

 quarters about the middle of March, and leaves them again about the beginning 

 of October. In winter it is often found near the sea-shore, often about the 

 estuaries of rivers or quiet bays. 



The Swan is a very powerful bird, and flies with its long neck well 

 stretched out. As it rises from the water it makes a tremendous clapping 

 noise, which can be heard quite distinctly more than a mile off. On migration 

 they fly in long strings, passing over at an immense height from the ground, 

 and the swish swish of their great wings may often be heard when it is 

 too dark to see the birds themselves. The habits of the Swan on our 

 ornamental waters need no description ; almost every one knows the graceful 

 way in which it arches its neck and raises its wings as it swims slowly about, 

 showing itself off, as it were, or floats lazily about with one leg tucked up on 

 its back behind its wings. On the water it is a most conspicuous bird, and 

 its white plumage gleaming in the sun may be seen for miles on large lakes. 

 The nest of the Mute Swan is a very large structure of old reeds, grass, 



VOL. II. F 21 



