INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 13 



such places, sometimes actually in shallow water. More rarely they 

 are placed by rivers, either up on the banks removed from the river 

 itself or in amongst the rank herbage bordering its course. When 

 placed in water they are said to raise their nests when the water 

 happens to rise and threatens to swamp them, and as tame swans 

 do this, it is in all probability likely that it is true that the wild ones 

 do also. They lay from four to eight eggs, but in captivity often lay 

 a larger number still, and I have known a tame duck-swan lay 14 eggs 

 in a sitting. According to Morris, the smaller number of eggs laid are 

 generally those of young birds, whilst the greater number of eggs are 

 laid by those fully adult. I should think, however, judging by 

 analogy, that though birds of the first season may lay fewer eggs than 

 is normal, it is, on tbe other hand, almost certain that very old birds 

 lay but small clutches. Their breeding season naturally varies very 

 much according to the country they breed in. In the warmer — less 

 cold would perhaps be the more correct expression — countries they 

 commence breeding in May, but in Iceland, Greenland, &c, I imao-ine 

 that they are normally at least a month later, and that August even 

 may still find some of the latest birds laying. 



Incubation lasts from 35 to 40 days, 37 being the most usual 

 number of days for the swan to sit, though eggs of the same clutch 

 may vary considerably in this respect. 



Swans are very good parents and look after their young with the 

 greatest care, the duck-bird often carrying her young ones about on 

 her back whenever they want a rest. 



In the Asian of the 5th March the following curious note was 

 published, and from the h abitat of the swans mentioned, concern- 

 ing which the note was written, it probably relates to P. musicus : 



" A Scandinavian writer, cited by the ' Zoologist,' has recently 

 described a curious method of capturing swans much employed for 

 centuries past in the northrwest of Iceland. The swans after 

 moulting in autumn, leave the interior in order to reach the coast. 

 The inhabitants of the coast and their dogs are prepared, and, when 

 the birds approach, begin to make as much noise as they can by 

 shouting, striking boards with stones, and making as much of a racket 

 as possible. This noise has a powerful effect on the young swans 

 which, terrified and distracted and not knowing which way to turn 



