NATURAL HISTORY. 359 



broken pieces of old and bruised ships, some whereof have 

 been cast thither by shipwracke, and also the trunks and 

 bodies with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast up there 

 likewise ; wherein is found a certain spume or froth, that in 

 time breedeth into certaine shels, in shape like those of the 

 muskle, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour ; one end 

 whereof is fastened into the inside of the shell, even as the 

 fish of oisters and muskles, the other end is made fast unto 

 the belly of a rude masse or lumpe, which in time commeth 

 to the shape and form of a bird : when it is perfectly formed 

 the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that appeareth is the 

 foresaid lace or string ; next come the legs of the bird hanging 

 out, and as it groweth greater it openeth the shell by degrees; 

 till at length it is all come forth and hangeth only by the 

 bill : in short space after it commeth to full maturitie, and 

 falleth into the sea, where it gathereth feathers, and groweth 

 to a fowle." 



Of the TAME GOOSE, Anser ferus, nothing need be said, 

 except that enormous flocks are bred in Lincolnshire, con- 

 taining from two to ten thousand birds each. The birds are 

 periodically subjected to the operation of plucking out the 

 quill-feathers, in order to supply the vast demand for pens, &c. 



THE SWAN. 



The MUTE or TAME SWAN, a well-known ornament to our 

 lakes and rivers, is not an inhabitant of England, but was in- 

 troduced from Eastern Europe and Asia, several hundred years 

 back. All are familiar with the graceful deportment of this 

 bird while sailing on the surface of the water. Unfortunately 

 its progress on land by no means corresponds with its aquatic 

 grace, being confined to an awkward waddle. 



The female Swan makes its nest of a great mass of dry reeds 

 placed among osiers or rushes near the water, and lays six or 

 eight large white eggs. During the time of incubation, and 

 while the young are still small, the parent birds defend them 

 with great assiduity and courage. 



Several large Swanneries are still in existence. The Crown, 



