190 THE SWAN. 



and fatal effect, in case of necessity, as a crafty fox, 

 wishing for a feast of Swan's eggs, found to his cost. 

 The female was sitting on her nest at one side of a 

 river, when she observed a fox swimming from the 

 opposite shore: rightly judging that she could en- 

 counter the enemy with much better chance of suc- 

 cess on water than on land, instead of retreating, 

 she boldly advanced to meet him, and dashing for- 

 wards, so battered him with her wings, that he was 

 soon killed, in the sight of several persons who saw 

 the combat. 



Besides the Swans above mentioned, there is 

 another peculiar to Australia or New Holland, 

 entirely black; but as they are tolerably hardy, it is 

 not improbable that they may, in the course of a 

 few years be naturalized in England, and form an 

 additional ornament to the rivers and lakes of our 

 parks and pleasure-grounds. We have already 

 noticed the peculiar manner adopted by young 

 Coots for concealing themselves under water ; and 

 it has been ascertained, by those who have had 

 opportunities of observing the habits of the Black 

 Swan in its wild and natural state, that although it 

 cannot dive, it contrives to immerse itself so deep in 

 the water, as to render its body nearly invisible, and 

 thus avoid detection. 



We have already noticed the trade carried on in 

 Goose quills; those of Swans being, of course, pro- 

 portionably larger, and less common, are still in 

 request, and preferred by some; consequently, a con- 

 siderable number find their way into the market, 

 and fetch high prices. One of the principal sources 

 of this trade is on the coast of the Black Sea, at its 



