278 BRITISH BIRDS. 



common on the river Trent, and on the salt-water 

 inlet of the sea near Abbotsbury, in Dorsetshire: 

 they are also met with on other rivers and lakes in 

 different parts of the British isles. 



It is the generally received opinion that the 

 Swan lives to a very great age, some say a century, 

 and others have protracted their lives to three 

 hundred years ! Strange as this may appear, there 

 are those who credit it: the author, however, does 

 not scruple to hazard an opinion, that this over- 

 stretched longevity originates only in traditionary 

 tales, or in idle, unfounded hearsay stories; as no 

 one has yet been able to say, with certainty, to 

 what age they attain. 



The female makes her nest, concealed among the 

 rough herbage, near the water's edge: she lays 

 from six to eight large white eggs, and sits on 

 them about .six weeks (some say eight weeks) 

 before they are hatched. The young do not ac- 

 quire their full plumage until the second year. 



It is found by experience that the Swan will not 

 thrive if kept out of the water : confined in a court 

 yard, he makes an awkward figure, and soon be- 

 comes dirty, tawdry, dull, and spiritless. 



