A stately fowl is
the Mute Swan. In snowy plumage, with arched wings, bent neck
orange bill and black knob on forehead it looks a royal bird. Its looks
do not belie
it. An Act of Parliament of the time of Queen Elizabeth I. declared
all unmarked
swans to be the property of the Crown. However, she gave permission
to keep
swans and allowed swan marks to be favoured subjects. Certain companies
of the
City of London still have swans on the Thames.
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