THE GALLINACEOUS TRIBES 



249 



XIV. Swans 



The record of the win^Ljed domestic animals 

 of the farm, the house, or the country place is 

 not complete if no mention is made of tlie swdii, 

 that graceful ornament of lakes and [xjnds. 



Turkeys in a Park 



England, as in the United States, the chief dish 

 at the Christmas dinner is a turkey artistically 

 trussed and decorated. 



Turkeys do not require much food and do 

 well on farms which possess extensive fields 

 over which they can roam. 

 Too much care cannot be 

 given to protect the young 

 birds from the hot sun and 

 from rainstorms, for they are 

 extremely delicate ; but if this 

 care is given they will grow 

 and develop rapidly. The 

 adults are strong and vigor- 

 ous and little subject to dis- 

 ease. It is not necessary to 

 change the male every year. 

 The food of the young birds 

 consists especially of wheat, 



barley, oats, and Indian corn, coarsely ground Though now and then capricious to strangers 

 and made into a paste that is easy to crumble ; and furious to its enemies, it is in reality a very 

 also hard-boiled eggs mixed with chopped alfalfa docile bird, and a pair of swans are a model of 

 or clover and stale bread should be added to peace and domestic happiness. But woe to him 

 their bill of fare. who risks annoying the mother or steps too 



The raising of turkeys is one of the finest near to the progeny if the father is near ! He 

 and most interesting of occupations and ought will surely attack both men and dogs, as well 

 to be practiced far more than it is at present, as acjuatic animals, with vigorous blows of his 



powerful wings. 



Swans make their own nests and 

 require little care ; but when it is a 

 question of raising valuable swans, 

 it is well to construct a little island 

 in the middle of the pf)nd or arti- 

 ficial lake for the mother and to 

 build upon it a shelter filled with 

 straw. The mmiber of eggs laid is 

 usuall)' from six or eight to tweh'e, 

 which the mother broods upon 

 for thirt)'-six days, while the father 

 mounts guard faithfully. Soon 

 after the young swans are hatched 

 they bravely take to the water and 

 swim after their parents in search 

 The movement should be started in the United of their natural food, or of the barley, oats, or 

 States ; and only when we figure up our pro- cooked potatoes that are thrown to them, 

 ductions and profits at some international poul- For many persons the swan is a source of 



try show will turkeys arouse the attention revenue. Its down and beautiful, strong wings 

 they deserve. bring good returns, subject, however, to the 



A Swan's Nest 



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