THE BLACK SWAN SNOW GOOSE. 



359 



returned to her nest in triumph. This circumstance took place at 

 Pensy in Buckinghamshire. 



Swans are very long-lived, sometimes attaining the great age of a 

 hundred years. The flesh of the old birds is hard and ill-tasted ; but 

 that of the young-ones, or cygnets, was formerly much esteemed. 



The Swan makes its nest of grass, among reeds ; and in February 



begins to lay, depositing an egg every other day till there are six or 

 eight. These occupy six weeks in hatching. Dr. Latham says, he 

 knew two females that for three or four years successively agreed to 

 associate, and had each a brood yearly, bringing up together about 

 eleven young-ones : they sat by turns, and never quarrelled. These 

 birds are found wild in Russia and Siberia. 



THE BLACK SWAN. 



" Like a Black Swan," was formerly a well known proverb, analogovs 

 to the Horse Marines of the present day ; unfortunately for the provei b 

 a Swan has been discovered in Australia, the whole of whose plumage 

 is a jetty black, with the exception of the quill feathers, which aie 

 white. It has been domesticated in England, and may be seen in St 

 Park, eagerly seeking after the crumbs offered by juvenile 

 It is rather smaller than the Whistling Swan. 



James 7 

 hands. 



THE SNOW GOOSE. 



This bird is about the size of the common Goose. The upper man- 



