274 DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. 



clear, loud, and trumpet-like cries delighted him as they sped 

 their way in lengthened files ; but they were too far off for him to 

 decide whether or not they were of this species. 



From six to eight eggs, of a greenish white, the female lays, 

 and the incubation lasts about six weeks. The cygnets are at first 

 covered with a grey down, and do not put on their adult plumage 

 until the third year. Swans care but little for concealing their 

 broods, as they feel confident of their power to protect them against 

 every enemy. They will fight even with the Eagle itself, harass- 

 ing it with beak and wings, until the marauder is glad to make 

 a more or less honourable retreat. 



In the protection of their young they display extraordinary 

 courage. On one occasion a female Swan was sitting on the bank 

 of a river, when she perceived a fox swimming towards her from 

 the opposite bank. Thinking that she would be better able to 

 defend herself in her natural element, she took to the water and 

 went to meet the enemy which was threatening her brood. She 

 soon reached him, and, springing upon him with much fury, gave 

 him such a violent blow with her wing that the fox was disabled, 

 and consequently drowned. 



The male Swan is equally with the female attentive to the 

 young brood, and watches them with a rare devotion. He carries 

 them about on his back, takes them under his wings to warm 

 them, and never abandons them while they are still young. It 

 is a beautiful sight to see him gliding over the water at the head 

 of his young flock, looking far ahead with an inquisitive eye, and 

 prepared to sweep away any opposing obstacle ; whilst the mother 

 keeps some distance behind, ready to protect the rear. How 

 much, too, are they to be admired as they sail majestically over 

 the surface of some solitary lake ! If you hide yourself behind 

 the thick reeds so that they have no suspicion of your presence, 

 you may see these noble birds bending their necks into the 

 most graceful curves, plunging their heads into the water, catching 

 it up in their bills, and scattering it behind them, the drops fall- 

 ing round their bodies in glittering rain; or when, beating the 

 water with powerful wing, stirring up a foamy wave, you may 

 behold them all on a sudden, they will briskly spring up and 

 glide majestically over the surface of the water, cleaving it 



