412 HiSTOiiY or 



ence : but Aldrovandus, to put, as he supposed, the question 

 past all doubt, gives us the testimony of a countryman of our 

 own, from whom he had the relation. This honest man's name 

 was Mr Geo. Braun, who assmed him, that nothing was more 

 common in England than to hear swans sing ; that they were 

 bred in great numbers in the sea near London ; and that every 

 fleet of ships that returned from their voyages from distant coun- 

 tries, were met by swans, that came joyfully out to welcome their 

 return, and salute them with a loud and cheerful singing ! It 

 was in this manner that Aldrovandus, that great and good man, 

 was frequently imposed upon by the designing and the needy : 

 his imbounded curiosity drew round him people of every kind, 

 and his generosity was as ready to reward falsehood as truth. — 

 Poor Aldrovandus ! after having spent a vast fortune for the 

 purposes of enlightening mankind ; after having collected more 

 truth, and more falsehood, than any man ever did before him, he 

 little thought of being reduced at last to want bread, to feel the 

 ingratitude of his country, and to die a beggar in a public hos- 

 pital : 



Thus it appears that our modern authorities, in favour of the 

 singing of swans, are rather suspicious, since they are reduced to 

 this Mr G. Braun, and John Rostorpb, the native of a country 

 remarkable for ignorance and credulity. It is probable the an- 

 cients had some mythological meaning in ascribing melody to the 

 swan ; and as for the modems, they scarcely deserve our regard. 

 The swan, therefore, must be content with that share of fame 

 vv'hich it possesses on the score of its beauty ; since the melody 

 of its voice, without better testimony, will scarcely be admitted 

 by even the credulous. 



This beautiful bird is as delicate in its appetites, as elegant in 

 its form. Its chief food is corn, bread, herbs growing in the 

 water, and roots and seeds, which are found near the margin. 

 It prepares a nest in some retired part of the bank, and chiefly 

 where there is an islet in the stream. This is composed of 

 water-plants, long grass, and sticks ; and the male and female 

 assist in forming it with great assiduity. The swan lays seven 

 or eight eggs, white, much larger than those of a goose, with a 

 hard, and sometimes a tuberous, shell. It sits near two months 

 before its young are excluded ; which are ash-coloured when they 

 first leave the shell, and for some months after. It is not a lit- 



