210 THE COMPLETE POULTRY BOOK 



SWANS. 



These, the most elegant of ail water-fowls, are becoming, as they deserve.more 

 and more common lu our public parks, and we hope that the time is not far dis- 

 tant when their cultivation shall be considerably extended. About ten species 

 of swans are known to naturalists, of which but three have been domesticated, 

 namely, the White swan, which is of the two European species, Cygnus olor (Eed- 

 billed 'swan), and O. immutabilis (Polish swan), and the Black swan of Australia, 

 Chenopis atrata. 



The following notes on the habits of the White swan were communicated to tlii 

 Poultry World by W. D. Davis, of Warner, N. H.: 



"When we consider how many bodies of water there are which miglit be 

 graced by them it is to be regretted that so little is known of these, the most ele- 

 gant and graceful fowls in the world. There are in this country two kinds, the 

 Black and the White ; the latter being handsomer, more common and more 

 docile. Not so large a body of water is necessary for them as one would natur- 

 ally suppose. We remember a pair in Maryland that occupied, in common 

 with ducks and geese, a pool of water twenty-five feet across, and not over three 

 feet deep. The swans remained nine tenths of the time in the water, hardly 

 ever coming on shore. Their food was wheat-bread, grass and green corn-fodder; 

 the latter they were very fond of. To settle the question whether they would 

 eat grain when they could get green food, we moved them to another small 

 pond, and on the edge of it poured down, in a heap, equal quantities of corn and 

 oats, continuing to feed them as before. The grain was not touched until it 

 sprouted, when they picked off the green blades only. 



"When left to themselves, they slept in the middle of the pond at night. One 

 morning in December, the night having been unexpectedly cold, we lound them 

 completely sorrounded by ice two inches thick. W-e then removed them to a 

 room in the poultry-house, giving them water, bread, cabbage leaves, etc., which 

 was their food for the winter. 



" Early in the spring they lay eggs considerably larger than goose eggs ; fre- 

 quently only two, and rarely overweight in number. After sitting thirty-five 

 days the young swans, or cygnets,"are hatched. They, being very hardy, are 

 easily raised, and are considered a great delicacy by the epicure. The old ones 

 care for the young with great vigilance, and, if the pond be of the proper size, 

 require little or no food. As they live most peaceably in pairs, it48 advisable to 

 have only that number, though more can be kept, as, for instance, at the Cen- 

 tral Park, New York. Being long-lived (having been known to live one hun- 

 dred years in England), less troublesome than other fowls, and also very quiet, 

 they should have a decided preference over their more brilliant and noisy rival, 

 the peafowl. We hope the day is not far distant when not only p\iblio parks 

 will be graced by these lovely birds, but also the private grounds of every lover 

 of the beautiful." 



The Black swan is smaller than the White variety, and is more shy in dispo- 

 sition, owing chiefly, no doubt, to having been in domestication a comparatively 

 short time. At present it is found, in this country, chiefly in the parks of our 

 larger cities. This bird is well shown in the illustration on page 207 



