306 THE SWAN. 



Besides the Swans above mentioned, there is another 

 peculiar to Australia or New Holland, entirely black ; but, 

 as they are tolerably hardy, it is not improbable that they 

 may, in the course of a few years, be naturalized in Eng- 

 land, and form an additional ornament to the rivers and 

 lakes of our parks and pleasure-grounds. We have already 

 noticed the peculiar manner adopted by young Coots for 

 concealing themselves under water ; and it has been ascer- 

 tained, by those who have had opportunities of observing 

 the habits of the Black Swan in its wild and natural state, 

 that although it cannot dive, it contrives to immerse itself 

 so deep in the water as to render its body nearly invisible, 

 and thus avoid detection. 



We have already noticed the trade carried on in Goose 

 quills ; those of Swans being of course proportionably larger, 

 and less common, are still in request, and preferred by some ; 

 consequently a considerable number find their way into the 

 market, and fetch high prices. One of the principal sources 

 of this trade is on the 'coast of the Black Sea, at its north- 

 western extremity, in the neighbourhood of Kinbourn, a 

 Russian fortress, nearly opposite to Oczakof, at the point of 

 a tongue of land, deeply indented with creeks and bays ; 

 and, as the country round is but thinly inhabited, wild 

 birds abound. Amongst others, it is thronged with Swans, 

 which select the long sandy headlands for the site of their 

 nests. They assemble in numerous flights about these 

 creeks, during the breeding season. Aware of this, the 

 people who collect their feathers start in pursuit of thena, 

 the old birds being then busy hatching and breeding their 

 young. The feathers are drifted on shore by the tide, and 

 collected. The produce is sold to dealers, who come from 

 the neighbouring towns of Oczakof and Cherson, and eagerly 

 bid against each other. Sometimes the quills will fetch as 

 much as three pounds per thousand, though the usual price 

 does not exceed twenty-two shillings. They are also an 

 article of trade amongst the people of the Crimea, who live 

 near extensive morasses and marshes, as well as the peasants 

 on the coast of the Sea of Azof, in the direction of 

 Marapot. 



