AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
FOR THE 
ITapm,, Grarcieii, and. Honseliold. 
“AGKICULTCliE IS THE MOST UEAETIIFCL, MOST USEFUL, ANU MOST XOBLE EMPLOY.MENT OF MAX.”-Wi,i,raoTOM 
OltAM^JE JIUBD & CO., 
PUBLISHERS AND PROPRIETORS. 
Ollicc, 41 Parle Row, (Times Buildings.) 
ESTABLISHED IN 1842. 
Pabiislicd also in German at SI.50 a Year. 
( SI..50 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE: 
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Entered according to act of Congress in July, 1866, by Oranoe Jtod & Co., in the Clerk’s Ofldee of the District Court of the United State-s for the Southern District of New-Yorlt. 
VOLUME XXV-No. 8. NEW-YORK, AUGUST, 1866. NEW SERIES-No. 235. 
Every one who visits New York City of course 
goes to the Central Park. The beauties of this 
prideof New Yorkers culminate in a large lake, 
spanned by airy bridges and margined by pic¬ 
turesque banks. The beauty of the scene is 
enchanced by tlie numbers of swans which glide 
blong the surface, arching their necks with 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 this case, at least, the 
real thing equals onr preconceived idea. Noth¬ 
ing acids 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 always graceful carriage of 
their long necks, have made them everywhere 
favorites. To see these usually meek 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. The nestis a rude affair, built 
of straw, reeds and the like, and in tliis from five 
to eiglit eggs are laid.—Tlie mother bird sits for 
six weeks, and during all this time the male or 
Cob keeps most vigilant guard. From being a 
quiet and peaceful bird, he is tlie one of tlie most 
pugnacious, and always on the look out for a 
fight. Our artist lias taken his picture just as 
the young brood is liatcliing, and has adniiralily 
given the motherly expression of the female as 
well as tlie fierce and war-like attitude of the 
male. He is constantl}’sailing around in the 
vicinity of tlie nest, and is ready to attack any 
otlior who approaclies ids domestic circle. The 
3 'oung swans are at first of a slate color, and it is 
three j'ears before they get their full plumage. 
