[Matplotlib-users] changing appearance of legend line entries

[per f. <per...@gm...>]

hi all,

i am plotting two distinct lines, one of the format '-o' the other of the
format '-s' -- i.e. one line with circular markers the other with a square
marker. when i add a legend to the figure, it gives a legend that looks like
this:

o---o  label of circular marker line
s---s  label of square marker line

however, in these types of plots, it's standard for the line in the legend
to only have *one* marker. meaning the legend should look like this:

--o--  label of circular marker line
--s--  label of square marker line

is there a way to get this modified legend appearance?

second question: how can i make the legend altogether smaller? or at least
make the label text font smaller?

thanks.