206 ANATID^E. 



of our Mute, half-domesticated Swan, with those of the 

 Hooper and Bewick's Swans is, that the two most con- 

 spicuous colours on the beak occupy opposite situations in 

 these species. In the Hooper and Bewick's Swans, the 

 anterior portion of the beak is black, the base and the lore 

 to the eye, orange-yellow ; but in our Mute Swan it is the 

 anterior portion of the beak which is of a rich reddish 

 orange, the base and the lore to the eye black, with a pro- 

 minent black tubercle or knob, on the upper part in front of 

 the forehead, which in old males attains considerable size. 



The Swan is, perhaps, of all others the most beautiful 

 living ornament of our rivers and lakes. Poets of all ages 

 and countries have made this bird the theme of their praise, 

 and by none with more characteristic truth of expression 

 than by our own Milton, who, in his Paradise Lost, says 



" The Swan with arched neck 



Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 

 Her state with oary feet." 



The male has frequently been styled " the peaceful mo- 

 narch of the lake ;" but this is his character during part of 

 the year only ; pending the season of incubation, and rear- 

 ing the young, there is scarcely any bird more pugnacious, 

 and from his great size and power he is in reality a 

 monarch to be feared and avoided by all that inhabit his 

 watery domain, for he drives his weaker subjects in all 

 directions. 



The nest, consisting of a large mass of reeds, rushes, and 

 other coarse herbage, is formed on the ground near the 

 edge of the water, and an island is generally chosen rather 

 than the bank. The female produces six or seven eggs ; 

 these are of a dull greenish white, four inches in length, by 

 two inches nine lines in breadth. Incubation lasts six 

 weeks, during which time the male is in constant attend- 



