H- U C K. 



437 



This is found wild in RuJJia and Sibiria, mod plentifuL in the Place anb 



laft. Arrives later from the fouth, and does not fpread fo far 

 north*. Thofe about the fouthern part of the Cafpian Sea are 

 very large, and much efteemed for the ufe of the table. The 

 Swan is held in high veneration by the Mahometans f. 



In England this fpecies is very common in every gentleman's 

 garden where there is water, being kept as an ornament. They 

 generally lay from fix to eight large whitifh eggs, and fit near 

 two months. Seen on the Thames in vaft plenty, where they are 

 efteemed as royal property, it being accounted felony to fteal the 

 eggs; by this means the encreafe is fecured, and prove a delight- 

 ful ornament to the whole length of that river, from that part 

 where the traffic of the metropolis ceafes, quite to its fource. In 

 the reign of Edward IV. the eftimation they were held in was 

 fuch, that " no one that poflefied a freehold of lefs than clear 

 " yearly value of five marks," was permitted even to keep any. 

 On the river Trent are alfo in vaft numbers; but no where more 

 plenty than on the falt-water inlet of the fea, near Abbotjbury, in 

 Dorjetjhire %. 



The young Swans, called Cygnets, were formerly much ef- 

 teemed; and are faid at prefent to be fattened, at Norwich, about 

 Chriftmas, and fold for a guinea apiece §.' 



I will here wave mentioning the fong, &c. of the Swan ; that 

 antient fiction, fo beautifully recorded by the old Poets ; our 

 friend Mr. Pennant having moft elegantly touched thereon in his 

 Britijh Zoology. 



Nothing can exceed the beauty and elegance with which the 

 Swan rows itfelf in the water, throwing itfelf, before the fpecta- 



* Ara. ZoeL f Dec. Ruff. in. p. 77. t Br. Zoel. § Id, 



tors., 



M»SS1KS. 



