BIRDS. 323 
And pendent rocks, where'er in gliding state 
Winds the mute creature, without visible mate 
Or rival, save the queen of night, 
Showering down a silver light 
From heaven upon her chosen favourite ! 
WORDSWORTH. 
THERE are two distinct species of this elegantly formed 
and majestic bird, the wild, and the mute, or tame ; both 
bearing the general characters of the genus, which they 
may be referred to yet not exactly tallying with each 
other. The beak of the wild Swan is surmounted with 
a yellow skin, which runs up to the eye. In the tame 
one this appendage (the use of which has not been yet 
sufficiently explored) is jet black, as are the feet in 
both species. The tame Swan is the largest of all web- 
footed water-fowl, sometimes weighing about twenty 
pounds : the whole body of the full grown Swan is covered 
with a beautiful pure white plumage, but the young ones 
are grey ; under the feathers is a thick but soft down, 
which is of very great use, and often employed as an 
ornament. The elegance of form which this bird displays, 
when, with his arched neck and half-displayed wings, he 
sails along the crystal surface of a tranquil stream, which 
reflects, as he passes, the snowy beauty of his dress, is 
worthy of admiration. Thomson describes the Swan in 
the following beautiful manner : 
the stately sailing Swan 
Gives out his snowy plumage to the gale, 
And arching proud his neck with oary feet, 
Bears forward fierce, and guards his osier isle, 
Protective of his young. 
Swans for ages past have been protected on the river 
Thames as royal property ; and it continues at this day to 
be accounted felony to steal their eggs. " By this means 
their increase is secured, and they prove a delightful orna- 
