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| | Mute swan |
 | | The Mute swan is one of the largest birds still capable of flight, reaching a length of 140-160 cm (including tail and neck), a wing span of 200-240 cm and a weight of 8-12 kg. |
 | | Mute swans live in habitats with slow-flowing water and a rich vegetation, like shallow lakes, coastal bays, marshes and town ponds. |
 | | As a symbol in alchemy, the swan was neither masculine nor feminine, but rather symbolised hermaphroditism or 'the marriage of the opposites', fire and water. |
| www.dierinbeeld.nl /animal_files/birds/mute_swan (773 words) |
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