Cadillac’s ducks are back.

Did you even notice they’ve been gone for 20 years?

Actually, the ducks are merlette swans and were part of Cadillac’s original logo. The swans are a knightly symbol that date back to the Crusades and are from the family crest of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Three of the swans represent the explorer’s mother’s lineage and the other three represent his father’s lineage.

The merlettes disappeared when Cadillac refreshed its iconic badge in 2000.

In a recent sneak peek of Cadillac’s all-new Lyriq, the merlettes could be seen on the side of the instrument panels when either of the front doors were open. Subtle… but there. The Lyriq is a mid-size crossover that will be Cadillac’s first all-electric vehicle.

I guess it’s Cadillac’s way of paying homage to the past as it develops the cars of the future.