GOO CLASS AVES. 



rival males, in this species, fight with the utmost desperation, 

 and each tries to suffocate the other, by holding his head 

 under water. These duels, which sometimes last entire days, 

 frequently terminate by the death of one of the champions. 



The swans, which form their nests on the least frequented 

 banks of lakes and rivers, lay from seven to eight eggs, of an 

 oblong form, and a clear greenish grey. The incubation lasts 

 about six weeks. The mother sits upon the eggs, and when 

 she quits them to attend to the calls of nature, she covers 

 them with feathers, and with rushes. During all this time 

 the male remains constantly near the female, and is continually 

 ready to defend her against every assailant. In these circum- 

 stances he even becomes dangerous ; and, according to Lewin, 

 has been known to throw down young persons of fifteen 

 or sixteen years of age. The male and female continue 

 for some time their protection to their offspring, and when 

 the latter swim, the female appears at the head, and the male 

 brings up the rear. 



The Whistling Swan, Lath., (Anas Cygnus,) is a wild 

 species. These wild swans inhabit the northern regions of 

 the two continents, nestle there, and never quit them until 

 forced by the rigour of the cold. They then pass into Scot- 

 land, Holland, North of France, &c. They even sometimes 

 proceed into the interior, in very cold winters. 



The flight of these birds is generally very elevated. Flocks 

 have been observed composed of young and old, the former 

 occupying the centre, with the male at the head, at some dis- 

 tance, and the female closing the rear. 



It is to this species that the ancients attributed so melo- 

 dious a voice ; but this opinion, however accredited, was not 

 universal. It was contested by Lucian, Pliny, and Elian; 

 and even Virgil speaks only of the disagreeable cries of the 

 swan. Some moderns have, notwithstanding, adopted the 

 popular notion of the ancients on this subject, and, even in 

 contradiction to the evidence of their senses, have endeavoured 



