THE CYGNET 
hatched four Cygnets, and on the same lake a Wild 
Duck had a brood also. The Father Swan seemed 
very angry and jealous whenever the young Duck- 
lings came anywhere near his nest, and he would chase 
them away with angry hissing noises. At the end of 
a week he had killed every one of the Wild Duck- 
lings, by seizing them in his beak and shaking them, 
or by holding them under water till they were choked. 
With their strong wings Swans have been known 
to break the arm of a man who has ventured too near, and 
they will readily attack children during the nesting time. 
A few years ago a little boy was playing on 
the banks of the Thames when he was suddenly 
attacked by a parent bird who had her nest close 
by. After buffeting the poor child with her power- 
ful wings she drew him under water, and held him 
there until he was drowned. 
It used to be said that once, and only once, 
during her lifetime the Swan could be heard to sing 
a most beautiful song, and this was when she was 
dying. As a matter of fact the Swan cannot sing at 
all, and because of this she has been named the Mute 
Swan. She has, however, two pleasant notes that 
she utters when she is looking after her young. 
47 
