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Mute Swan above cited. Although so graceful and sedate-looking, the Swan is by no means an 

 inoffensive bird, especially during the breeding-season, when the male bird will not only furiously 

 attack any intruder of his own species who may venture to trespass on his watery domain, but 

 will occasionally try and stop the way against boats that may pass too close to the nest ; and any 

 one who is curious enough to try and examine the nest itself is almost certain to encounter a 

 warm reception. When pairing, severe battles take place between the young birds who have 

 to choose mates ; for the old birds are already paired, as the Swan pairs for life and lives in 

 strict monogamy. The old birds have also some little trouble in driving intruders away from 

 their nesting-places, which they do most effectually, fighting with the greatest fury. 



The place selected for the nest is either on a small island or close to the edge of the water 

 on the mainland, and consists of a great mass of aquatic herbage heaped together, the interior 

 being constructed of rather finer materials than the rest of the nest, which is usually very bulky, 

 and raised so as to prevent any accident from floods. Yarrell gives a remarkable instance of the 

 power of instinct in a Swan, communicated to him by Lord Braybrooke. A female Swan which 

 was sitting on four or five eggs at Bishops Stortford was observed to be busy trying to raise her 

 nest, and on half a load of haulm being thrown down near the nest she made use of it to raise 

 her nest and eggs two feet and a half. That very night there came a heavy fall of rain, which 

 caused a flood and did considerable damage : but the Swan had taken sufficient precaution ; for 

 her eggs were above, though only just above, the water. 



Incubation lasts about five weeks, or rather longer if the weather is cold ; and during the 

 time the female is sitting the male is particularly attentive to her, and extremely jealous of any 

 intrusion near the nest. Although as a rule the female alone incubates, the male is said to 

 take her place should any accident happen to her, and will hatch out and rear the young birds. 

 One brood is usually raised in the year; but if the first eggs are destroyed the female will 

 generally deposit a second lot. It may not be out of place here to cite some remarks on the 

 nidification of the Mute Swan published (/. c.) by Mr. Stevenson : — ■" The Swan's nest, from its 

 ample dimensions, is always a conspicuous object, whether placed amongst the rank herbage on 

 the river's bank, at the mouth of a marsh-drain, or on the little islands and reedy margins of 

 the broads themselves ; and from the summit of that littered mass the sitting bird commands all 

 approaches, whilst her mate keeps guard below. To my mind an old male Swan seldom looks more 

 beautiful than when, ' on duty,' he sails forth from the margin of the stream to meet intruders ; 

 with his head and neck thrown back between his snowy pinions, and every feather quivering 

 with excitement, he drives through the rippling water, contenting himself, if unmolested, with a 

 quiet assertion of his rights, but with loud hisses and threatening actions resenting an attack. 

 When the young, too, under the joint convoy of their parents, have taken to the water, the 

 actions of both birds are full of grace and vigour, and the deep call-notes of the old pair mingle 

 with the soft whistlings of their downy nestlings. What prettier sight presents itself upon our 

 inland waters with such a group disporting themselves in the bright sunshine of a summer's day, 

 when the pure whiteness of the old birds' feathers contrasts with the green back-ground of reeds 

 and rushes, and the little grey Cygnets on their mother's back are peeping with bright bead-like 

 eyes from the shelter of her spotless plumes'? This habit of taking the young on her back is 

 not, as some have supposed, adopted only as a means of safety when crossing a strong current, 



