8 AUGUST 1908, Page 16

CONCERNING SWANS.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—For many years a pair of graceful swans have sailed on the lakes in the grounds of Meldrum House, Aberdeenshire, each like "the swan that sailed on still Saint Mary's Lake floated doubly swan and shadow." But the other day the male swan, who was getting lame and evidently feeling the infirmities of age, while sailing with his faithful female mate seized bold of her neck, and held her bead under the water until she died. Shortly after he himself was found dead near the same spot, with his long neck and oary feet trailing in