216 WOOD NOTES WILD. 
SWAN. 
Singing on the water in Regent’s Park. (Auguste Bertini.) 
Allegro. 
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im Ec 
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: 
“The Abbé Armaud has written some interesting remarks upon the 
voice of the swan.1 He says : — 
“The swan, with his wings expanded, his neck outstretched, and his 
head erect, places himself opposite his mate, uttering a cry to which the 
female replies by another half a note lower. The voice of the male rises 
from A (la), to B flat (si bemol) ; that of the female from G sharp (sol 
diése), to A.2 The first note is short and transient, and has the effect 
which our musicians term sensible; so that it is not separated from the 
second, but seems to glide into it. Observe that, fortunately for the ear, 
they do not both sing at once; in fact, if, while the male sounded B flat, 
the female gave A, or if the male uttered A while the female gave G 
sharp, there would result the harshest and most insupportable of discords. 
We may add that this dialogue is subjected to a constant and regular 
rhythm, with the measure of two times (?). The keeper assured me 
that during their amours, these birds have a cry still sharper, but much 
more agreeable.’”” — Harting, J. E.: Ornith. of Shakespeare, pp. 201, 202, 
I Wood's “ Buffon,” vol. xix. p. 511, note. 
2 This, it will be observed, differs materially from Colonel Hawker's 
observation. 
