216 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
it demands a place in a list of British species. It 
is said to have been introduced into this country 
from Cyprus by King Richard I., and is thus one 
of the products of the Crusades, if this is to be 
regarded as the true story ; but it still breeds 
wild no further away than Denmark, Sweden, and 
North-Eastern Prussia. The largest and most 
famous swannery in England is that at Abbots- 
bury, in Dorsetshire, belonging to Lord Ilchester, 
and the swans from Abbotsbury may frequently be 
seen on the sea off the neighbouring beaches. In 
England the swan begins to nest at the end of March 
or in April ; the nest is a large heap of dry reeds 
or other marshy herbage. The number of eggs 
varies from three or four to nine, ten or even twelve, 
more being generally laid by the hen bird as she 
grows older. They are of a uniform, pale sea- 
green. The male bird is bold and fierce in defence 
of his nest, but the story that he can break a 
man's leg with the blow of his wing is an exagge- 
ration. The plumage of the cygnets is greyish- 
brown, the white feathers appearing gradually, 
and not being fully gained for more than a year. 
The Swan principally feeds on water-plants, though 
it will also accept bread or grain with much graceful 
condescension. It is also amusing to watch it nib- 
bling off grass from the bank, and methodically 
dipping each beakful in the water to soften it before 
