The Swan. 
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THE SWAN. (Cygnus dor.) 
" Fair is the Swan, whose majesty prevailing 
O'er breezeless water, on Locarno's lake, 
Bears him on, while, proudly sailing, 
He leaves behind a moon-illumined wake : 
Behold ! the mantling spirit of reserve 
Fashions his neck into a goodry curve — 
An arch thrown back between luxuriant wings 
Of whitest garniture, like fir-tree boughs, 
To which, on some unruffled morning, clings 
A flaky weight of winter's purest snows ! 
Behold ! as with a gushing impulse heaves 
That snowy prow, and softly cleaves 
The mirror of the crystal flood ; 
Vanish inverted hill, and shadowy wood, 
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. 
The two best known species of this elegantly-formed 
and majestic bird are commonly known as the Wild and 
