CHAPTER LXIX 

 SWANS 



11 O'er what vast lakes that stretch superbly dead, 

 Till lashed to life by storm-clouds, have they flown ? 

 In what wild lands, in laggard flight have led 

 Their aerial career unseen, unknown, 

 Till now with twilight come their cries in lonely monotone ! " 



E. P. JOHNSON, White Wampum. 



THE swan travels with a false character. He is reputed by 

 poets and other romancers to sing when he dies, and to 

 marry respectably and live as " pure " a life as a respect- 

 able British grocer. He does neither. He dies with a 

 hiss, and is as little of a monogamist as the Grand Seigneur. 

 In February, according to swan chronology, the unpaired 

 mate with each other; for already have the family fights 

 taken place in frigid January, and the young have been 

 separated from the old the young, lone and desolate, having 

 taken up their grounds ere they begin to fight fiercely and 

 pair in February. 



The 22nd of February 1891 was a lovely, silvery day, 

 with a gentle breeze blowing from the S.S.W. a breath 

 of amorous spring that made the lusty mavises pour forth 

 their full hearts. Even the hedge-sparrows and tomtits 



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