Female Swan

Hmm...i found this fascinating peice
of information on the topic:


Flight feathers from the female swan
were used as writing implements
then known as 'pen quills' and later
as 'quill pens', until the 'quill' was
left out and only the word 'pen' remained.
So our present-day ballpoints
etc. take their name from the female
swan!

Peter

 wrote on 08/04/2003
04:59:14 PM:

> Ok everybody here is the challenge set for a Grade 3 class at Bowen
> State School.
> What is a female Swan called?
> Cooking tea on my Wifes Birthday and the phone
rings. "Please can 
> you help me we have searched the Internet and want to find out what
> a female Swan is called?"
> No better place to throw the ball than birding-aus.
> Please help and I'll get the tea cooked.
> Thanks
> Jon