134 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



quite, and there is the same beauteous scene between them. It 

 is still continuing, though the most exalted transports are over, 

 when, all at once, the four little cygnets come running into the 

 water, to their parents, whether in response to a low " hoop, 

 hoop " on their parts, I cannot say, for I am at too great a 

 distance to hear this, though the strong melodious cries fill the 

 air. I believe, however, that one of the two — probably the 

 female — made a pause in the symphony, to give them this 

 signal. 



Three or four times, after this, there is the same approach 

 on the part of the stranger Swan, and the same out-flying and 

 putting of her to flight when she is adjudged to be too near. 

 On all these occasions it is the female, I think, who flies out, and 

 more than once, on her return (when there is always the same 

 scene) she brings down her wings upon the water, right over the 

 C} T gnets, as though claiming them. But the three or four 

 times have become five or six, or more, now. It all keeps con- 

 tinuing, the poor lonely Swan— for there is a powerful alloy to 

 the happy side of the picture — time after time coming down on 

 this sheet of water, as she did on the other, and sometimes 

 flying quite close up to the group, and circling round them, to 

 pass on and come down, as before. Every time, without excep- 

 tion, one of the happy pair flies out to chase her off, circling 

 back, now, almost as soon as she rises (when she, as soon, 

 comes down again), and every time this one is the female, if a 

 slighter build, and, especially, a much thinner and slenderer 

 neck, can settle it. Always there are the same rejoicings after 

 each homecoming, but as the occasioning incident becomes 

 more and more frequent, they grow less marked. 



But there has been another scene in this strange drama, 

 which I only now find time to note — one which throws light 

 upon its whole meaning, and especially explains that early 

 struggle, at the nest, in which it originated, unless, indeed, as I 

 think is most probable, it had been going on before I arrived. 

 "When the pair of Swans, with their family, entered the fresh 

 sheet of water, the single bird did not immediately follow them, 

 but went first to the nest — now no longer within the view of its 

 owners — which she ascended and stood in, but did not, during 

 the few minutes I remained, sit down ; and thus I left her, upon 



