THE SWANS. 319 



though in some places it may be considered as a native, yet 

 it hardly comes under the denomination of an indigenous 

 bird. As domesticated, or rather as in a sort of semi-domes- 

 ticated state, it is beautiful, and highly ornamental. No 

 specimens of it resort periodically to this country at the time 

 when the other seasonal swimming birds make their appear- 

 ance. Its native localities are indeed too distant in longi- 

 tude, as well as too far to the south, and its disposition to 

 roam is too limited, for the probability of its appearance as a 

 migrant. The other species, which reside more northerly, 

 do advance, though only in small packs, to the southern parts 

 of the country, but are much more abundant in the islands 

 and along the extreme north of Scotland, where they often 

 appear in vast numbers in the winter ; a few sometimes 

 remain and breed in the more remote and lonely places. 



The distinguishing* characters of the swans are, the bill 

 higher than broad at the base, depressed towards the tip, 

 but continuing nearly the same breadth, and not tapering or 

 approaching the conical form so much as that of the geese. 

 The nostrils are pierced about the middle of the length of the 

 bill. The neck very long, and carried in a graceful curve in 

 swimming. Swans do not walk very well, but they swim 

 with much ease and grace, and they occasionally make use 

 of their broad and hollow wings partially elevated, as a sort 

 of sails, by means of which they drift before the wind. When 

 moving to a distance, they fly high and swiftly ; but the tame 

 ones seldom make long flights. 



They are much more aquatic than geese, being generally 

 upon the water, in which their long neck enables them to 

 dabble to a considerable depth. They eat indiscriminately 

 vegetable food and the small animals that inhabit the waters, 

 or the ooze at the bottom of the shallows. But in the case 

 of the tame swan, at least, with the habits of which we are 

 most familiar, they are not known to dive, and though they 



