OBSERVATIONS.--The story of its melodious death-song is now quite exploded; the organisation of its windpipe permits only a slight hiss, a dull murmur, and a gentle croaking. Song, properly so called, belongs exclusively to the whistling swan; a poet may have heard it once, and without observing the difference between the birds, have attributed it to the common swan. The latter feeds on insects and aquatic plants; during the winter corn should be given it, and it must be kept in a temperate place. The female forms a large nest, of the stalks of rushes, reeds, and other plants, and lines it with feathers from her breast. She lays six or eight greenish white eggs, and sits on them five weeks. During this time, the male is always near her, driving away and pursuing all that would approach. He has such strength of wing, that a well-aimed blow of it would break a man's leg. The young ones are at first grey. It is said that swans will live a hundred years. Their utility as well as their beauty would merit more attention than is commonly paid to their education, which is easier than that of geese. Lithuania, Poland, and eastern Prussia, send several quintals every year to the fair of Frankfort upon Oder. Many tame swans are also collected on the Sprey, round Berlin, Spandau, and Potsdam; particularly in May, to rob them of their down. The skins with the down on them are prepared for pelisses; powder puffs are also made of it. THE SHELDRAKE. Anas Tadorna, LINNÆUS; Le Tadorne, BUFFON; Der Bruntente, BECHSTEIN. This species measures two feet from the tip of the beak to the extremity of the tail; the beak is smooth, flattish, and of a scarlet colour; a fleshy knob covers the upper base; the nostrils and nail at the end of the beak are black; the feet are bluish red; the head and upper part of the neck are duck green; the rest of the neck and belly are white; a wide orange brown band crosses the breast; the back, with the wing-coverts, is white; the scapulars are speckled with black; the first quill-feathers are black, the following violet, the middle ones rusty brown, and the last white; the speculum is green, reflecting a beautiful violet; the feathers of the tail are white, tipped with black. OBSERVATIONS.--This species, found in the north of Europe and Asia, hollows out the sand by the sea-shore, or uses a forsaken rabbit's hole, or some cavity in a rock, to form its nest in. The beauty of its plumage has attracted the attention of amateurs, who tame it, and keep it in the poultry-yard; but it is not useful, its flesh having an unpleasant smell and flavour. It feeds with the other ducks, and becomes very familiar; it ever appears intelligent. THE WILD GOOSE. Anas anser ferus, LINNÆUS; L'Oie sauvage, BUFFON; Der wilde Gans, BECHSTEIN.