The morning times., 1896-06-21
knows that technically the male is called a

knows that technically the male is called u
cob; the female, a pen.
The size OF the pond must be regulated
some what by the size of her family of
swans and plenty OF reeds and water
plants must be gro wn in it. When left to
herself, the swan makes its nest OF q mass
OF aquatic plants, often piled two or three
feet high and possibly six feet in diameter:
The eggs laid, from five to nine in number,
are of grayish olive color and the period
of incubation six weeks. Starting out with
couple of swans about the middle of June,
by the first of August a young family should
be ready to peep forth upon this wicked
world
Each little swanlng will be clothed in
sooty-sray down aud at first present 4
very disappointing appearance to their
young mistress, who hoped for vision OF
snoww white fluffy balls: however, il will
be nearly twelvemonth before the Young
brood lose their duh Coloring aud appear
wholly blanched
There is species of bird-thc POLISH
swan. whose progeny came into the world
all clothed in white, or with their fair
plunagc slightly tinged with buff, with
pale legs and flesh covered bills
The species of swans with which my lady
starts her new swannery. are the cyEnus
musicus or''whooring swan" and the whist
ling swan. which has u voice more onorous
than musical. 81
Coiored patches on its black bill, deepen
ing aimoSt into scarlet. are one OF the dis
tinguishing marks OF tie whiStiinc sEa.
The cyguus musicus is the swan of ii;era-
ture the one that sings 1t own death song
in poetry. and which Is not only beautiful
but classical as well. Homer having sung
its praises, also Virgil.
While feeding, and during the operation
of dressing and arranging their plumagc.
the cygnus musicus is apt to be very noisy
musical one could hardly call it.
The well-brcd swan usually takes bah
hefore feeding. The food which it receives
from its mistress hand is cake biscuit
and bits of bread, ON its own account it
picks up many tidbit-slug or snail by
prowling about among the reeds and water
plants.
Considered for many centuries as apo
crypal as white crow, the discovery OF
the black swan of Australia about two
hundred years ago. WAS an important event
in the geological world. The stream in
which the black swans. four in number.
were first seen. is now known as Swan
River. the most import ant stream of
West Australia. which has adopted this very
bird as its armorial symbol.
black swan is not Il common sight.
although now found in most countries. it's
funereal pluma ge is lightened by the
snowy white Of its flight feathers, and its
coral-llke bill banded with ivory.
The largest swanBery in England is that
belonging Ia Lord Ilchester. on the water
called the Fleet lying inside tie Chesil
bank, on the coast OF Dorset where about
eight hundred swans are kept-a small
flock compared with the number that
used 10 De retained on various British
estates.
The queen maintains her swans on the
Thames. and those who are familiar with
expedition to the river to take up tie young
brds-thencc called Swan upping'
to mark them.
The subject of marks is one phase of
the subject which the owner of a swan
merry must study, and lready the maidcns
who are enthusiastic On the subject are
talking learDedly about 'cygBinuta''-
private marks, and each bird is a game
tmorc swell and correct than "ficck.")
must bear distinguishing mark of owner
shiP-cygniDota perhaps the Inonogram, or
some quaint and original device.
In oldeD times. that is during the Eliza
betlian era, nearly a thousand distinct
swan-rnarks, both uf private persons and
corporations, were recognized by the royal
swanherd, whose Jurisdiction extended
over the whole Kingdom.
Thus much for the serious study. the
young women. who intend establishing
swanDeries, have given TO the subject.
There is in fact very little they cannot
tell you about this bird which was sacred
to Apollo and 10 the muses. and the model
OF grace and love. ID. c.