Although they are seldom seen on the water during the day, Wild Geese go every evening to the ponds and rivers in their neighborhoods to pass the night, so that the Wild Goose visits its aquatic haunts when the Wild Ducks are leaving them. SWANS. [Illustration: BLACK NECKED SWANS.] Just as the Goose has long been the symbol of awkwardness and stupidity, so the Swan has been an object of admiration in all ages for its noble proportions, the graceful curve of its neck and its small and shapely head. On the water it is the picture of elegant ease. It swims apparently without effort and with great rapidity. Different species are found in America, Europe and Asia, and in Australia a black Swan is very abundant. In the wild state it lives on lakes, rivers and sea-coasts of both hemispheres, feeding on such seeds, leaves, roots, water-insects, Frogs and Worms as come in its way. In its domestic state, it is the charm and ornament of our lakes and rivers; but, except in a few instances, it is only kept for show, as it is jealous and cruel in disposition and not friendly with domestic fowls. Both the Mute and the Whistling Swan were celebrated among the ancients; and the Black Swan of Australia is quite distinct from the white and the Grey Swans of other countries; and one curious species is pure white with a black neck, like those of our illustration who are enjoying themselves in the water, all unconscious of the danger lurking on the tree-branch above them, although the chattering Parrots seem to be endeavoring to give them warning. The Swan, like the Goose, lays from six to eight eggs, of a greenish white color. It takes them about six weeks to hatch. The baby Swans or Cygnets are first covered with a grey down, soft and fine like the yellow down of Goslings. The regular feathers do not appear until the third year. THE PELICAN FAMILY. [Illustration: PELICANS.] All the Birds of the Pelican family are distinguished by having the hind toe united to the others by a single membrane. Some of the group are large and heavy Birds, but they are all gifted with powerful wings, and they are, at the same time, good swimmers. Besides the Pelicans themselves, we find in this family of Birds, the Tropic Bird, the Darter, the Gannets and the Cormorants. The Pelicans are large, heavy aquatic Birds, with great extent of wing and are excellent swimmers; their haunts are the sea-coast, and the banks of rivers, lakes, and marshes. Whenever a Fish betrays its presence by leaping or flashing its glittering scales in the sun, the Pelican will be seen sailing towards it. This Bird has an appetite so insatiable and a stomach so capacious that, in one day it devours as much food as would satisfy six men. The Egyptians have nicknamed it the River Camel, because it can imbibe at once more than twenty pints of water. Certainly it only makes two meals a day; but, oh, what meals they are!