The Singing of Swans

"It would," says Bishop Percy (Mallet's *North. Antiq.*, ii. p. 72.), "be a curious subject of disquisition, to inquire what could have given rise to so arbitrary and groundless a notion as the singing of swans," which "hath not wanted assertors from almost every nation." (Sir T. Browne.) "Not in more swelling whiteness sails Cayster's swan to western gales, [3] When the melodious murmur sings 'Mid her slow-heav'd voluptuous wings." [3] "It was an ancient notion that the music of the swan was produced by its wings, and inspired by the zephyr. See this subject, treated with his accustomed erudi…