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Its natural residence seems to be Eastern Europe. It is 

 migratory in its habits, and, among other places to which 

 it resorts, is stated to visit Smyrna Bay in winter. " In a 

 natural state, the female swan, sedulously attended by her 

 mate, forms her nest, which is a thick mass of sticks, reeds, 

 flags, and rushes, in the midst of reeds or osiers near the water. 

 The eggs are six or eight in number," and of a greenish- 

 white. The Cygnets, or young Swans, are covered with a 

 greyish-brown plumage, which is not entirely lost till the 

 beginning of the third year. " The attention bestowed by 

 the old birds upon the young is incessant; and when fa- 

 tigued by the strength of the stream, or requiring to be 

 removed to a far distance, too great for their young capa- 

 city, the hen bird takes the young ones on her back, which 

 she accomplishes by lowering herself a little in the water, 

 and occasionally assisting them to ascend with her foot, and 

 in this manner they are carried in safety to some more de- 

 sirable spot." The Swan feeds on aquatic weeds and coarse 

 grass growing by the sides of rivers and in morasses. It 

 is long-lived, attaining to the age of more than thirty years. 

 THE HOOPER on WILD SWAN. Cygnus ferus. The Wild 

 Swan descends from the higher northern latitudes in winter, 

 when it visits the coasts, lakes, and rivers of Britain. We 



