Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06
YOUNG SWAN AT THE ZOO
The First Case Of Breeding European Swan
in the District.
Their Beauty and Grace on Land and
on the Backs of the Old Birds.

There are now to be seen at the Zoo
four young swans. Matched May II. The
present birds have, with two or three
others. been In Washington for four years,
but showed no signs of mating until this
spring.
Late in March one morning 1t was dis
covered that one of the males in the in
closure had been killed by the others No
fighting had been seen by the keepers but
the dead one had evidently been beaten to
death. as he was badly bruised and cut.
The birds had been confined in small
wired area, which included a small lake
let. The head keeper, Mr.. Blackburn, now
determined to give the pair which seemed
to be mated the freedom Of Rock Creek,
near which was the swan lot
Soon after liberation the pair
ticed to have selected a spot for a nest,
and had begun to gather sticks about half
an inch In diameter and a foot and less In
length. The location selected for the nest
Is on the west side Of Rock creek, ABOUT
eighty feet above the bridge crossing the
creek from the southeast entrance to the
park. The place was d little coVo in the
bank. The cove is about eight feet wide
and runs back perhaps twelve feet from
the waters edge. the bottom of the cove
being about three feet below the surface
of the bank and two feet above the level
OF the water. There are some shrubbery
bushes In and along the edges of this cove,
and nearby some trees. which now furnish
shade and shelter to the nest, but at the
time Of building the nest there We're no
leaves on the trees or bushes, and the birds
and nest were then in full view from the
bridge. On the side of the stream on which
the nest was built is a driveway for teams.
which passes within ten feet of the cove
containing the nest Mr.. Blackburn, fear
Ing the swans would be molested, placed
some cedar bushes and large branches so
as to overhang the nest, then put wire
fence around the place He also threw
Wa which a ne
gathered UP to complete the inside of the
nest, after laying a sufficient foundation Of
sticks.
All this did not disturb the swans In
their nest building. AS nearly could be
determined an egg was laid every other
day until there were five eggs seen in the
nest On April I, from which date the fe
male began setting.
Four cygnets were Matched May II, max
ing the period of incubation forty-one days
The young swans, or cySnets. appear to be
entirely healthy. and are now about the size
OF half-grown Pekin ducks. They are a
uniform drab in color, slightly lighter in
neck and head. The beaks are all black
and free from the yellow marking seen on
the heaks of both parent birds. On the
grass both old and young act much as do
geese and Soslings, but both are more awk-
ward in walking than geese or goslings In
sitting on the grass the young Were noticed
TO occasionally put one foot upon the back
as swans are seen to do when on water The
male swan walks with very stately tread
IN circle between the female and young
and the crowd of visitors. II one visitor
approaches too near he does not fail to show
fight.
On water this group is in their favorte
element, and are not only more graceful,
out more interesting than on land. From
the time incubation began the male bird
was constantly on the watch, and spent
much of the day cruising up and down the
side Of the stream in front of and always
in sight of his mate and nest. The young
are taken regularly on the water Usually
the female goes in front, the four young
young float on in font. both parents fol-
lowing. A favorite pastime, and one that
is quite remarka BILE is their habit of get
ting the cygnets on the backs of the old
birds. and then swimming about with them.
one day last week a Waterman on the
bridge saw the young in front of the
parent birds. when suddenly a muskrat
was observed approaching directly toward
the young birds. The little things saw
danger and Immediately separated in two
cufV1ng lines, ard swan around to the
mother bird while the male darted for
ward. and dashing his head into the wa
ter, caught the muskrat by The back in
Ills powerful beak, giving him severe
punishment for his temerity
These the large white European or
mute swan. 1t does not appear that much
effort has been made in this country to
raise these birds, but this success ct the
Zoo demonstrates that with sufficient free
dom and proper surroundings they will
pi oduce young readily as domestic
geese.
On a small island in a small lake at the
Zoo pair Of wild geese have built nest,
and have laid eggs. The nest was begun
with few sticks gath cred this bare lit
tie island, and one egg WAS laid on these
sticks. Straw was taken to the island and
used to complete the nest. On leaving the
nest the goose covers the eggs with straw.