Swans　天鹅

This beautiful and majestic bird was considered the bird-royal in England,owing to a law of England that when found in a partially wild state on the sea and navigable rivers it belonged to the crown;but of course it is to be found on the ponds and lakes of many a gentleman's estate,and is always prized as a great ornament to the lake.The swan is also very valuable in clearing the ponds of weeds,and makes a most effective clearance,as they eat them before they rise to the surface.The swan affords a pleasing illustration of the love of the mother-bird for its young,and has been known to vanquish a fox who made an attack on its nest—showing that the instinct of motherhood kindles boldness and bravery in the breast of the most timid animals.The nest is generally made on an islet,and composed of reeds and rushes,and when the five or seven large eggs are hatched,the mother may be seen swimming about with the young ones on her back.

在英格兰，人们认为美丽优雅的天鹅是皇室鸟。英格兰有一条法律规定，在海上或通航河流中发现的半野生状态的天鹅都归皇室所有。当然，普通绅士庄园里的池塘和湖泊中也有天鹅，它们点缀其间，成为一道亮丽的风景。天鹅还是很棒的池塘除草工。草还没有长出水面，就被天鹅吃掉了。天鹅又是母爱的典范。曾经有一只狐狸来侵袭天鹅巢，被天鹅打得落花流水。这足以证明母爱的本能可以让最温良的动物胸中燃起无畏的烈焰。天鹅巢一般会筑在礁岩上，里面铺着芦苇和灯芯草。每当天鹅宝宝出世，或五只，或七只，你就会看到天鹅妈妈背着小天鹅在水中游来游去。