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Entered according to act of Congress in July, IS66, by OttANOi! JtiDD & Co., In the Clerk's Ofllce of the District Court of the United States for the Soutliern District of Now-Tork. 
VOLU3IE XXV— No. 8. 
NEW-YOPav, AUGUST, 1800. 
NEW SERIES— No. 2:55. 
SWANS IN BROODING 
IC0PV1;1U11T SECUKED.] 
TIME . — Engraved for the American Agriculturist froii a Dr.wving by Edwin Forbes. 
Every one who visits New Tork City of course 
goes to the Centrtil Pai-I<. Tlie beaulies of this 
l)rideof New Yoi'lcers culminiite in a large lal^e, 
spanned by airy bridges and margined by pic- 
tuiesqne bunl;s. Tlie beauty of tlie scene is 
enchauced Ijy llie numbeis of swans wliicli glide 
iiiong the surface, ai'cliing their necks witli all 
the grace that we have seen represented in pic- 
tures. One in seeing a swan for the first time, 
is not disappointed, for in tliis case, at least, the 
real thing equals our pi-econceived idea. Noth- 
ing adds so much to the attractiveness of a piece 
of water as these birds. The pure whiteness of 
their plumage, the majestic leisure of their 
movements, and the alwaj's gi'aceful carriaie of 
their long necks, have made them everywlicre 
favorites. To see these usually meeic and 
gentle birds, in other aspects, one should watch 
them at brooding time. The female chooses 
some isolated place for her nest; an island is 
usually preferred. Tlie nest is a rude affair, built 
of sti'aw, reeds and the like, and in this from five 
to eight eggs ai-e laid. — The mother binl sits for 
six weeks, and during all this time the male or 
Cob keeps most vigilant guai'd. From being a 
quiet and peaceful bird, he is the one of the ninst 
inignacious, and always 'on the look out for a 
fight. Our artist has taken his picture just as 
the young brood is hatching, and has admirably 
given the mothci'h' expression of the fem.ile as 
well .as the fierce and war-like attitude of the 
male. He is constant!)' sailing ai'onnd in llie 
vicinity of the nest, and is re.ady to att.ack any 
other who approaches his domestic circle. The 
young swans are at first of a slate color, and it is 
three years before they get their full plumage. 
