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
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It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
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Walking among the giants
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Let s celebrate cephalopods
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Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California
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Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
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Fireflies glowing above a stream, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
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A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
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Polar bear season in Manitoba
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Celebrating World Art Day
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International Beaver Day
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Aerial view of Venice, Italy
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Southern right whale
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Thomas Edison s bright idea
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Pacific Rim Whale Festival
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An opulent backdrop for a historic event
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Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
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A herd of impalas, Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
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A throng of ice and spires
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We did not invent this, honest
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Purple crocus flowers, Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
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St. Patricks Day
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Necropolis of Dargavs
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Venice by night
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Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) in Wales turns 75
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
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Dallas Latino Cultural Center for Hispanic Heritage
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A day to celebrate teachers
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International Sloth Day
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Valentines Day
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One giant leap for penguins
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