197 
and every part takes new grace with new 
postures. Indeed all the actions of the 
Swan, are calculated to excite that en- 
chantment which possesses the soul at the 
sight of grace and beauty ; all declare it, 
paint it, the bird of love ; all justify the 
ingenious and sprightly mythology, that 
this delightful bird was the father of the 
most beautiful of women. 
But although so elegant in its native 
element, on the land the Swan appears auk- 
ward and inactive- 
It swims very fast, and the power it has of 
turning its feet over its back when floating 
has a very singular appearance. 
From what is asserted in the early part 
of this article ; it cannot be doubted that 
this species possesses considerable powers 
when striking with its wings, but we can- 
not help agreeing with Montagu that the 
ridiculous tale of its being able to break 
the arm, leg, or thigh of a man are only 
calculated to frighten children, and that 
it is high time such nursery stories should 
be erased from the pages of Natural His- 
tory ; for, in our opinion it would be as 
