The mute swan is a symbol of beauty and elegance, thanks in no small part to the beloved fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," about an awkward and unsightly duckling who upon growing up discovers he is actually a swan. The proverbial story is often used as a lesson in transformation and the relative nature of beauty. One glance at this swan, seen here holding a feather in a nature preserve in the Netherlands, and it"s easy to see how the idiom "graceful as a swan" came about.
Mute swan
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Cinco de Mayo
-
Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
-
Rooftops in the walled city of Urbino, Italy
-
Wildcat in a winter wonderland
-
Wander the ancient medina
-
Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
-
Ponta da Piedade rock formations in Portugal
-
Kjell Henriksen Observatory
-
Surströmming Day
-
A history of Vinland
-
Aurora borealis
-
A keel-billed toucan in Costa Rica
-
It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
-
National Mountain Climbing Day
-
World Water Day
-
Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
-
Whoopin it up!
-
Hello, spring!
-
Travels to the Oregon deep
-
World Oceans Day
-
This grizzly has Napping Day down
-
Fin whales: A success story
-
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
-
English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
-
Atop the roof of Africa
-
International Zebra Day
-
Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
-
Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
-
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
-
Is this Minecraft headquarters?
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

