229 
TAME SWAN. Cuass IL. 
legs dusky; but Dr. Plott mentions a variety 
found on the 7rent near Rugely, with red legs. 
The swan lays seven or eight eggs, and is near 
two months in hatching ; it feeds on water plants, 
insects, and shells. No bird perhaps makes so 
‘inelegant a figure out of the water, or has the 
command of such beautiful attitudes in that ele- 
ment, as the swan: almost every poet has taken 
notice of it, but none with that justice of de- 
scription, and in so picturesque a manner, as 
our Milton. 
The swan with arched neck 
Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 
Her state with oary feet Par. Lost, B. VII. 
But we cannot help thinking that he had here an 
eye to that beautiful passage in Stlius Ltalcus 
on the same subject, though the English poet 
has greatly improved on it. 
Haud secus Eridani stagnis, ripave Caystri 
Innatat albus olor, pronoque immobile corpus _ 
Dat fluvio, et pedibus tacitas eremigat undas. Lab. XIV. 
In former times it was served up at every 
great feast, when the elegance of the table was 
measured by the size and quantity of the good 
cheer. Cygnets are to this day fattened at Nor- 
wich about Christmas, and are sold for a guinea 
a piece. 
Swans were formerly held in such great esteem. 
