WHISTLING SWAN. 
297 
of the interior make much use of the down of the Swan as 
a matter of decoration, in which taste they have also been very 
successfully followed by civilized nations. Among the Ice- 
landers, Swans are an object of chase in the moulting season, 
which takes place in August, after rearing their young ; they 
are pursued by dogs and on horseback, the animals being 
purposely trained to pass nimbly over bogs and marshes. I’he 
eggs in the spring, as well as the flesh in autumn, are in Ice- 
land much used as food, and the feathers form an article of 
trade. In Kamtschatka, where Swans likewise abound and 
breed, they are taken and used in the same manner ; their 
food consists of aquatic plants and insects. 
The Whistling Swan, though commonly tamed and domesti- 
cated in Russia, has not the grace and elegance of the Mute 
species, as instead of the beautiful cur\'e of the neck it swims 
with it erect. Its vocal organs are also remarkably assisted 
'by the elaborate structure of the trachea, which, instead of 
passing on direct to the lungs, as in the Mute Swan, forms 
two circumvolutions within the chest, like a trumpet, before 
terminating in the respiratory organ ; and it is thus enabled 
to utter a powerful and sonorous note. The common lame 
Swan, on the contrary, is the most silent of birds, being 
unable to utter any louder noise than a hiss. This deficiency 
of voice is, however, amply made up by beauty of form and 
insinuating grace. Its pure, spotless, and splendid attire , its 
stately attitude; the ease and elegance with which, like a 
bark, it sits and moves majestically on the water, as if proud 
and conscious of its beauty ; aiding its pompous progress by 
gently raising its snow-white wings to catch the sportive breeze, 
wherein it wantons with luxuriant ease, queen of its native 
element, — in short, all conspires to shroud the Swan, however 
mute, with its long acknowledged and classic perfection. And 
as if aware of its high and ancient pretensions, it still, as in 
former ages, frequents the now neglected streams of the Mean- 
der and the Strymon; with an air of affected languor it is 
yet seen silently sailing by the groves of Paphos, though no 
longer cherished by its beauteous queen. 
