246 THE COMMON SWAN. 



Swans, then, are ferce natures to all intents and 

 purposes; yet, although capricious birds, wild in' their 

 very nature, like most living creatures, they have some 

 attachment to place, yet they are called " tame 

 swans," " domestic swans, &c. ; but never were epi- 

 thets more inappropriate, unless we agree to say 

 " tame hyaena," *" tame wolf," " tame rat," " domestic 

 pheasant," " domestic swallow." They will come to 

 their keeper's call, and take food from his hand ; they 

 will keep at home, when they are completely prevented 

 from ranging out of bounds abroad ; so far are they 

 tamed and domesticated, but no further, and never will 

 be. To compare the relations which exist between 

 them and man, with those by which we retain the 

 goose and the common fowl, is about as correct as to 

 believe that the same temper and disposition influence 

 the faithful dog and the wildest jackal of the wilder- 

 ness. I put the case thus strongly, in order that it 

 may be understood clearly. The comparisons may be 

 a little exaggerated, but they will serve to raise the 

 real truth into higher relief. The period of incubation 

 is about forty days. 



-PAIRING. 



Like most domesticated animals, as before observed, 

 swans have some attachment to place. The first, 

 therefore, is to settle them, agreeably tp their destined 

 home. Old birds are less likely to be contented with 

 a new abode, unless very distant from their former 

 one. Cygnets may be procured every autumn ; if they 

 have been put up to fat for some time so much the 

 better, as they will the sooner become manageable, 

 and content with a small range. The disadvantage of 

 having cygnets to begin swan keeping with, is, that 

 they are less ornamental till they have attained their 

 perfect plumage, and the proper orange color of the 

 bill, and that they do not breed till their third year. 

 It is not, however, generally known that the male is 

 capable of increasing his kind a year earlier than the 



