A PROUD SWAN.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Storrington, in Sussex, a pair of swans have a family of six cygnets. This is an unusually large number, for although the hen can lay from five to nine eggs it is seldom we See moro than two to three young ones. The male bird is very proud of his family, and in their defence attacks any one standing by the water. One man was thoroughly frightened, as he thought his leg would have been broken. It would be interesting to know if swans have this year been abnormally productive in the South [We wonder whether the pride of the cock bird is actually in the magnitude of his family. Our own impression is that animals and birds (except perhaps dogs, and horses trained by German professors) cannot count above four. A eat does not seem to miss the kittens taken away from a large litter if four are left to her.-- ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
