432 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



in order to liit it at all, the huuter must take sight at a point several feet in advance 

 of the bill. Hearne thinks that its speed, when flying before the wind in a brisk 

 "ale cannot be less than a hundred miles an hour. When moving against or across 

 the wind, however, it makes slow progress, and is more easily shot. 



Captain Blakiston mentions jji-ocuring a specimen at Fort Carlton, on the Sas- 

 katchewan, on the 30th of March. It was the first of the spring migration ; it was 

 a male bird, and weighed twenty-three pounds. Mr. Bernard Ross found this species 

 common on the Mackenzie Eiver, and Mr. E. Browne includes it in his list of the 

 birds of Vancouver Island, 



The Journal of Major Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains refers to 

 Swans, which were probably this species, seen passing northward as early as the 22d 

 of February. This bird is among the first of the migratory ones to reach Hudson's 

 Bay, where it appears in flocks of from twenty to a hundred. It is strictly monoga- 

 mous, and breeds in the islands and in low grounds among the reeds and sedges, 

 making its nest of leaves and dry grasses. It lays from five to seven eggs of a dirty- 

 white color. The young are hatched in July, and in August the moulting season 

 commences, when, for a while this Swan is unable to fly. It begins to move south- 

 ward about the 1st of September, resorting to the lakes and rivers about the 60th 

 parallel, where it remains until October. Its manner of migration is said to be almost 

 identical Avith that of the americamis, the birds collecting in flocks of considerable 

 size, and, availing themselves of favorable winds, when they mount high in the air, 

 forming an elongated wedge, and departing with loud sonorous screams. They reach 

 their places of winter resort late in October or early in November, and their arrival 

 is marked by the same outbursts which attend the coming of the smaller species, 

 under similar circumstances. 



Although not able to fly when moulting, this bird cannot be readily taken in that 

 condition, as its large feet, powerfu.1 leg, and vigorous wings enable it to run on the 

 surface of the water faster than an Indian can paddle his canoe ; and to capture it by 

 hand is rendered almost impossible, by the circumstance that resort is had to diving 

 and other skilful manoeuvres to facilitate escape. 



A nest of this species was found by Mr. W. C. Rice at Oakland Valley, la., in 

 the spring of 1871, and the Cygnets taken from it. Three of these were successfully 

 raised, and were purchased for the Mount Auburn Cemetery, where they were received 

 in December. They bore their transportation, in a week of unparalleled severity for 

 the season, without injury, and were remarkably docile and tame. In the summer 

 months when at large they Avould leave their pond and seek the companionship of 

 their keeper, whose occupation as painter occasionally required his presence on the 

 grounds near their place of abode. If permitted they would spend the day in his 

 company rather than remain in their pond. They were perfectly and completely 

 domesticated, and showed no fear of any person, feeding from the hands of any 

 stranger. This Swan has also been domesticated in the cemetery in Cincinnati, a 

 pair of the progeny having been sent to the London Zoological G-ardens, and another 

 to Mount Auburn. 



Mr. Audubon states that these Swans appear on the lower waters of the Ohio about 

 the end of October, in the larger ponds and lakes at no great distance from the river, 

 preferring such as are closely surrounded by dense and tall cane-brakes. There they 

 remain until the water is frozen, when they move southward. During mild winters 

 a few remain in these ponds until March. Mr. Audubon traced the winter migrations 

 of this species as far south as Texas, where at times it is quite abundant. He met 

 with a pair there that had lieeu taken alive in the winter of 1836, and had been 



