who was of Egypt, and skilled in antient terms, styles Calchas,
who was the priest of Apollo, a swan. [188][Greek: Molossou kupeos koitou
kuknon.] These epithets, the Scholiast tells us, belong to Apollo; and
Calchas is called a swan, [Greek: dia to geraion, kai mantikon]: _because
he was an old prophet and priest_. Hence, at the first institution of the
rites of Apollo, which is termed the birth of the Deity, at Delos, it is
said that many swans came from the coast of Asia, and went round the island
for the space of seven days.

[189][Greek: Kuknoi de theou melpontes aoidoi]
[Greek: Meonion Paktolon ekuklosanto lipontes]
[Greek: Hebdomakis peri Delon; epeeisan de locheiei]
[Greek: Mousaon ornithes, aoidotatoi peteenon.]

The whole of this relates to a choir of priests, who came over to settle at
Delos, and to serve in the newly erected temple. They circled the island
seven times; because seven, of old, was looked upon as a mysterious and
sacred number.

[190][Greek: Hebdome ein agathois, kai hebdome esti genethle.]
[Greek: Hebdome en protoisi, kai hebdome esti teleie.]
[Greek: Hebdomatei de hoi tetelesmena panta tetuktai.]
[Greek: Hepta de panta tetuktai en ouranoi asteroenti.]

The birds in the island of Diomedes, which were said to have been
originally companions of that hero, were undoubtedly priests, and of the
same race as those of whom I have been treating. They are represented as
gentle to good men, and averse to those who are bad. Ovid describes their
shape and appearance: [191]Ut non cygnorum, sic albis proxima cygnis;
which, after what has been said, may, I think, be easily understood.

If then the harmony of swans, when spoken of, not only related to something
quite foreign, but in reality did not of itself exist, it may appear
wonderful that the antients should so universally give into the notion. For
not only the poets, but [192]Plato, Plutarch, Cicero, Pliny, with many
others of high rank, speak of it as a circumstance well known. But it is to
be observed, that none of them speak from their own experience: nor are
they by any means consistent in what they say. Some mention this singing as
a general faculty; which was exerted at all times: others limit it to
particular seasons, and to particular places. Aristotle seems to confine it
to the seas of [193]Africa: [194]Aldrovandus says, that it may be heard
upon the Thames near London. The account given by Aristotle is very
rem