SYNONYMES.-Cygnus olor, ofNaturalists; Cygne commun, Cygne muet, of the French; Gemeiner Schwan, Stummer Schwan, of the Germans; Cisne comun, Cisne mudo, of the Spaniards; Swan, Common Swan, Mute Swan, Cob, (adult male,) Pen Bird, (adult female,) Cygnet, (young) of the English and Anglo-Americans. Those who wish to make themselves acquainted with the habits and dispositions, as well as the mere figures and descriptions of animals, should know that all living creatures cannot be divided into two distinct ranks of wild and tame, but that there is a most perplexing intermediate multitude, neither wild nor yet tameable, but usually spoken of as "familiar," or "half-domesticated," a term without meaning, dodging, like "squatters," on the offskirts of human society, but determined never to enlist in the drilled and disciplined ranks, playing the game of "off and on," but always ending with the "off." Such, among many others, are the partridge, rats and mice, and at a still greater distance, it is believed, is the whole genus of swans. Swans, then, are feræ naturæ to all intents and purposes; yet, although capricious birds, wild in their very nature, like most living creatures, they have some attachment to place, yet they are called "tame swans," "domestic swans, &c.; but never were epithets more inappropriate, unless we agree to say "tame hyæna,' ," "tame wolf," "tame rat," "domestic pheasant," "domestic swallow." They will come to their keeper's call, and take food from his hand; they will keep at home, when they are completely prevented from ranging out of bounds abroad; so far are they tamed and domesticated, but no further, and never will be. To compare the relations which exist between them and man, with those by which we retain the goose and the common fowl, is about as correct as to believe that the same temper and disposition influence the faithful dog and the wildest jackal of the wilderI put the case thus strongly, in order that it may be understood clearly. The comparisons may be a little exaggerated, but they will serve to raise the real truth into higher relief. The period of incubation is about forty days. ness. PAIRING. LIKE most domesticated animals, as before observed, swans have some attachment to place. The first, therefore, is to settle them, agreeably to their destined home. Old birds are less likely to be contented with a new abode, unless very distant from their former one. Cygnets may be procured every autumn; if they have been put up to fat for some time so much the better, as they will the sooner become manageable, and content with a small range. The disadvantage of having cygnets to begin swan keeping with, is, that they are less ornamental till they have attained their perfect plumage, and the proper orange color of the bill, and that they do not breed till their third year. It is not, however, generally known that the male is capable of increasing his kind a year earlier than the female, so that a brood may be obtained from an old hen, and a cock bird in his second year. In selecting a pair, the great thing is to make sure of having two birds of opposite sexes. Two cock birds will not live together, and their mutual aversion would soon show that all was not right; but two hens will-which is the case also with pigeons. DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MALE AND FEMALE. In selecting any water birds whose plumage is alike in both sexes, and which cannot, therefore, be distinguished with certainty, the best rule is to see them in the water, and take that which swims deepest for the female; and that which floats with greatest buoyancy for the male, remembering that, as a general rule, all creatures of the masculine gender have the largest lungs in proportion to their size. The neck of the cock swan is usually thicker. An experienced eye will, besides, detect a certain feminine gentleness and modesty in the one, and an alacrity and boldness in in the other, which is a tolerably safe guide, as well as an appropriate and becoming attribute to the creatures themselves. FEEDING, MANAGEMENT, ETC. SUPPOSING the reader to have obtained two cygnets that are not mere friends, but actually husband and wife, he will recollect that those reserved for fatting are never pinioned, lest it should check their progress, and he will request the operation to be performed before he has them home, in order that they may have the fewest possible disagreeable reminisences, connected with the spot where they are to spend their lives. The amputation of the part of the wing, which corresponds to our hand, is quite sufficient to prevent the flight of the short-winged species, so far as migration is concerned, disfigures them less than the closer pruning, and still leaves them the means of escape from a dog, allows them now and then, in their gambols, to fancy they are free, and to enjoy a sort of half-run, half-fly, from the lawn into the water. Kindness, comfort, and good feeding must be employed to keep them at home as far as possible; but the loss of the last wing will not be enough to prevent their flight. It is recommended that the female be pinioned at the wrist, the male at the elbow, trusting to their mutual attachment to keep the less-maimed bird from deserting her mate. But however it be done, let it be set about in a workmanlike manner; no choppingno hacking-no hewing-nor butchering. Many cygnets are annually killed by the clumsy way in which their wing is lopped off. They suffer from the shock to their nervous system. A skillful operator will feel for the joint, divide the skin, and turn the bone neatly out of the socket. He should be allowed to shed just one drop of blood-no more. I would be as hard upon him as Portia was upon the flesh-cutting Jew— 23 "This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; If any brook run into and from the pond where they are to remain, their escape through that channel must be prevented by netting, hurdles, pales, or other fencing, which should be continued some distance inland, lest they should walk away, if they cannot swim away. This precaution will be found particularly necessary if there is any main stream in the immediate neighborhood. A feeding trough may be fixed for them in the pond, in the part where it is most desirable that they should be accustomed to display themselves. The trough must be placed in the pond on two firm posts, within arm's length of the shore, raised high enough from the water to prevent ducks from stealing the food contained therein, having a cover which lifts up by hinges, and so forms a lid, to keep out rats, and open only in front. Many persons, however, feed their swans by simply throwing the corn, or grain, into shallow water. They will skim the surface for the light grains which float, and then submerge their heads in search of that which has sunk. But it is cruel to locate a pair of swans for the sake of their beauty in a new-made piece of water whose banks and bottom are as barren and bare as the inside of a hand basin. A load or two of water weeds should have been thrown in, the previous spring, to propagate themselves and afford pasturage. Swan food exists in proportion to the shallowness and foulness, not to the extent and clearness of the water. "A yard of margin is worth a mile of deep stream." In confined waters, swans require a liberal supply of food, in the autumn, when the weeds run short. It should be remembered, that at this season, they have to supply themselves with a new suit of clothes, as well as to maintain their daily strength. If they have not been taught to eat grain, and have not acquired a notion of grazing, they will perish from starvation. Young birds are apt to be fanciful or stupid, and have not sense enough to come to the bank and eat grass, nor pick up the threshed corn, or grain, which may be thrown down to them. Sometimes they may be tempted with a lock of unthreshed barley or oats, thrown, straw and all, into the water, which they will instinctively lay hold of and devour. Cygnets, which have been previously put up to fatten, will give little or no trouble in this respect, besides the advantage of being accustomed to the near approach of their feeder. The weight of the swan, in the feathers, varies from 25 to 28 lbs., and sometimes, though rarely, 30 lbs. They are never better than in the month of October, when the gastronomical inquirer, who is as yet unacquainted with their merits, is recommended to give |