AXATID.E — THE SWANS — OLOR. 429 



several hours. In the spring these birds cagaiu assemble, as early as :March, and 

 after many preparations by incessant washings and dressings, meanwhile disturbing 

 the neighborhood with their noise, they depart for the north with a general clamor 

 of unmusical screams. In the Chesapeake they collect in flocks of from one to live 

 hundred on the flats near the western shores, from the mouth of the Susquehanna 

 almost to the Kip Eaps. When alarmed they become instantly silent, and they depend 

 much more on sAvimming than on flying for effecting an escape. When feeding, or 

 dressing their plumage, this Swan is usually very noisy, and at night these clamors 

 may be heard to the distance of several miles. Their notes are varied, some resem- 

 bling the lower ones made by the common tin horn, others running through the vari- 

 ous modulations of the notes of the clarinet. These differences are presumed to be 

 dependent upon age. 



In shooting at a flying Swan, Dr. Sharpless states that the bill should he aimed at, 

 or, if going Avith a breeze, a foot before the bill. A Swan can rarely be killed unless 

 struck in the neck, and large masses of feathers may be shot away without impeding 

 the bird's progress for a moment. When wounded in the wing only, these Swans 

 will readily beat off a dog, or even a man. They are sometimes brought within shoot- 

 ing range by sailing down upon them while feeding, as they rise to disadvantage 

 against the wind. In winter, by means of Avhite dresses and boats covered with ice, 

 sportsmen paddle or float by night into the centre of a flock, and numbers may thus 

 be killed by blows of a pole. 



This species admits of being tamed and partially domesticated. A pair belong- 

 ing to the cemetery at Milford, Mass., were exhibited at the poultry show in Boston 

 in 1874. They Avere perfectly tame, permitted themselves to be touched without 

 resistance, and fed readily from the hands of entire strangers. 



Mr. MacFarlane mentions this Swan as breeding in consideral^le numbers in the 

 vicinity of Fort Anderson. The eggs were found from the middle of June to the 

 last of July. The nests Avere on the ground, and generally lined Avith hay, or occa- 

 sionally with down and feathers. The maximum number of eggs was four. Other 

 nests were seen on islands in Franklin Bay and in otlier portions of the Arctic Sea. 

 The eggs taken in July usually contained embryos. 



According to Mr. Dull, this SAvan is common all along the Yukon, arriving Avith 

 the Geese about May 1, but in a contrary direction, coming down instead of going up 

 the river, and breeding in the great marshes near the mouth of that river. The eggs 

 are usually on a tussock quite surrounded Avith AA^ater, and so near it that the female 

 sometimes sits Avith her feet in the water. The Indian name of the species is 

 " Tohwah." At Xulato the eggs are laid about May 21, but later at the mouth of the 

 Yukon. These birds moult in July, and cannot fly ; at that time the Indians spear 

 them with bone tridents. They are very shy. Mr. Bannister found them common at 

 St. Michael's. They flew in small flocks of ten or twelve, in a single line, adA-ancing 

 obliquely. 



Captain Bendire, in a letter Avritten Nov. 14, 1874, mentions the capture of birds 

 of this species on Lake Harney, in Eastern Oregon, Avhere it Avas A-^ery numerous. 

 The stomach of one contained about tAventy small shells, half an inch in length, 

 and identical in kind Avitli shells common on the beach near Los Angeles, Cal, a 

 quantity of graA-el, and a fcAV black seeds. He found the meat excellent — much 

 superior to tliat of the Wild Goose. On the 18th of April, 1875, he wrote, mentioning 

 the arrival of a large flock, all of this species, there not being a buccinator among 

 them. He afterward noticed them as being very common on the borders of Lake 

 Malheur during the migrations, a fcAV remaining until April 24. In the Upper 



