THE CYGNET 
seen than the Swan, with her long, gracefully curved 
neck and snowy plumage, gliding majestically over 
some lake or pond. At times she carries her young on 
her back, which is flat and well suited for this purpose. 
When she raises her wings the Cygnets have the 
most safe and beautiful cradle that could be imagined. 
The favourite home of the Swan is some large 
sheet of water with islands, surrounded by reeds, 
where she can rear her young in safety. The nest 
she builds is very large, being about four feet across 
and two feet high. It is made of old reeds, the 
dead leaves of the iris, and long grass. The Swan 
repairs her nest each year, instead of building a new 
one. In this nest she lays from four to nine eggs 
greenish-white in colour, and rather rough to the 
touch. She sits on these from thirty-four to thirty- 
eight days before they are hatched. During this 
time the father guards the nest and will hiss angrily 
at all intruders, and drive away any unfortunate duck 
or coot who ventures near. When the Mother Swan 
leaves the nest to find food the father takes her place. 
The young Cygnets, when they are hatched, 
are most jealously guarded. It was seen once that 
on a small lake near a house a pair of Swans had 
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