240 TURKEYS, ORNAMENTAL POULTRY, AND WATER-FOWL 



" For exhibition," Mr. Fowler says, " all geese should be 

 shut up in the dark, and fed liberally upon whole barley or oat? 

 thrown into water. It is essential to great weight to keep 

 them very quiet, letting them out in the water, however, for 

 half an hour every day." 



SWANS. There are six or seven varieties of swans known 

 to naturalists, but only three are at present, or likely to be, 

 domesticated in this country viz., the English White or Mute 

 Swan ; the Australian or Black Swan, and the Chili or 

 Peruvian Swan. The plumage of the two first needs no 

 description ; but that of the Chilian Swan differs from either 

 in being white on the body, with a black head and neck, making 

 rather a pleasing contrast of colour. In size the White Swan 

 is largest of all All three varieties are long-lived, and 

 individual birds are reported to have reached the age of one 

 hundred years. 



The female swan lays in February, every other day until 

 seven to nine eggs are laid. More than five cygnets, however, 

 are seldom hatched. The nest is made somewhere amongst the 

 flags and weeds at the water's edge, and it is dangerous to 

 approach either the male or female during incubation, as they 

 are very irascible, and a blow from their strong pinions will 

 even break a man's arm. 



The cygnets are best fed by throwing meal upon the water. 

 The old birds, if they have a large water range, will only need 

 feeding in severe winter, when they should have grain. They 

 also like grass to be thrown to them, and bread, which they 

 will frequently eat from the hand. 



The young birds must be left to shift much for themselves, 

 the parents being too jealous and powerful to submit to restraint. 

 But for this they might perhaps be more widely kept, as young 

 cygnets an 11 , excellent for the table, and very easily reared. 



