. A history of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . s in different parts of the Britishisles. It is the generally received opinion that the Swan livesto a very great age, some say a century, and others haveprotracted their lives to three hundred years ! Strange .2 I 252 1BRITISH BIRDS. as this may appear, there are who credit it: the author,however, does not scruple to hazard an opinion, that thisover-stretched longevity originates only in traditionarytales, or in idle unfounded hear-say stories; as no onehas yet been able to say, with certainty, to what age theyattain. The female ma
. A history of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . s in different parts of the Britishisles. It is the generally received opinion that the Swan livesto a very great age, some say a century, and others haveprotracted their lives to three hundred years ! Strange .2 I 252 1BRITISH BIRDS. as this may appear, there are who credit it: the author,however, does not scruple to hazard an opinion, that thisover-stretched longevity originates only in traditionarytales, or in idle unfounded hear-say stories; as no onehas yet been able to say, with certainty, to what age theyattain. The female makes her nest, conceakd among the roughherbage, near the waters edge 1 she lays from six to eightlarge white eggs, and sits on them about six weeks (somesay eight weeks) before they are hatched. The young donot acquire their full plumage till the second year. It is found by experience that the Swan will not thriveif kept out of the water: confined in a court yard, hemakes an awkward figure, and soon becomes dirty, taw-dry, dull, and spiritless. A^:f :^^..i*.. rS^,gff^:^--^i BRITISH BIRDS. 253
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1800, bookidhistoryo, booksubjectbirds
