54 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



as a balance ; but once in the water, they are different- 

 looking creatures, gliding smoothly along with the 

 beautiful neck carried in a graceful curve. Although 

 such large birds, when fairly on the wing they have 

 a very powerful flight. Like the Flamingoes, they 

 fly with the neck stretched forward to the fullest ex- 

 tent, with their feet spread out behind them to act as 

 a rudder. From ancient times these birds have been 

 domesticated in Europe and kept as an ornament to 

 streams and lakes. 



When nesting. Swans are very savage and coura- 

 geous, defending their nests to the last extremity. One 

 has been known to break a man's leg by a blow from 

 the powerful wing, and there is an instance of a Swan 

 and a fox having been found dead together, the fox 

 having attacked the young, and killed the parent bird, 

 but losing its own life as well. 



When alarmed or excited, the Swan has a curious 

 habit of raising its wings over its back, and the effect 

 of these beautiful feathers falling gracefully back- 

 ward and reflected in the water is most charming. 



Swans are extremely voracious, and when in the 

 same pond with Ducks and Geese will invariably drive 

 them away at feeding-time, if possible. 



The best-known species is the European Mute 

 Swan, the one usually seen in public parks and col- 

 lections. The plumage is white, the bill red, with a 

 curious bulbous place, or knob, at the base. See Plate 

 35, Fig. 201. 



The Australian Black Swan has a neck consider- 

 ably longer, in proportion, than that of other Swans, 

 and the feathers of the upper part of the body, es- 



