204. HABITS OF THE SWAN. 
extravagancies of romance—a propensity not altogether 
unknown in these our latter times.” 
Yarrell has remarked, in his “ History of British Birds,” 
that “the young, when hatched, which is generally about 
the end of May, are conducted to the water by the 
parent bird, and are even said to be carried there: it is 
certain that the cygnets are frequently carried on the 
back of the female when she is sailing about in the water. 
This I have witnessed on the Thames, and have seen the 
female, by raising her leg, assist the cygnets in getting 
upon her back.” Mr. Jesse, also, in his “Gleanings in 
Natural History,” correctly observes : “ Where the stream 
is strong the old swan will sink herself sufficiently low 
to bring her back on a level with the water, when the 
cygnets will get upon it, and in this manner are conveyed 
to the other side of the river, or into stiller water.” 
From a passage in King Henry VI. we may presume 
that this habit had been noticed by Shakespeare :-— 
“So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, 
Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.” 
Henry VI, Part I. Act v. Se. 3. 
By the expression “underneath her wings” we may 
understand under shelter of her wings, which she arches 
over her back whereon the young are seated. 
This habit of carrying the young has been observed in 
the case of many other water birds. Mr. W. Proctor, of 
