122 



THE DOMESTIC SWAN. 



is about to alight on land, or on the water, that 

 it stretches out its legs or spreads its webs ; 

 and this is done to check the descent in order 

 that the body may escape from injury. 



Many years ago I allowed one of my swans 

 the full use of both its wings, and great was the 

 gratification which its aerial evolutions afforded 

 me. Its powers of flight were truly astonishing. 

 It visited all the sheets of water for many miles 

 around ; and, being very tame, it would some- 

 times, on its return home, alight within a few 

 yards of me, as I was standing near the margin 

 of the water. On taking its excursions into 

 the world at large, I would often say to it, in a 

 kindly tone of voice as it flew over my head, 

 " Qui amat periculum, peribit in illo ; " as I too 

 clearly foresaw that foes would lie in ambush 

 for it. At last, I missed my rash and pretty 

 favourite. It had taken wing to the westward 

 one fine morning, and that morning was its last. 

 I looked for its return in vain ; and every day 

 my hope grew weaker as my fears increased. 

 Towards the close of the week I read in the 

 Wakefield paper that a professional gentleman 

 in the neighbouring town of Horbury, had suc- 

 ceeded in shooting a magnificent wild swan, 



