LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 299 



geese, the neck stretched to its full length, as are the feet, which project 

 beyond the tail. When passing low, I have frefpiently thought that I heard 

 a rustling sound from the motion of the feathers of their win.gs. If bound to 

 a distant place, they form themselves in an.gular lines, and probably the 

 leader of the flock is one of the oldest of the males ; but of this I am not at 

 all sure, as I have seen at the head of a line a gray bird, which must have been 

 a young one of that year. 



To form a perfect conception of the beauty and elegance of these swans, 

 you must observe them when they are not aware of your proximity, and as they 

 glide over the waters of some secluded inland pond. On such occasions, the 

 neck, which at other times is held stiffly upright, moves in graceful curves, 

 now bent forward, now inclined backward over the body. Now with an 

 extended scooping movement the head becomes immersed for a moment, and 

 with a sudden effort a flood of v*'ater is thrown over the back and wings, 

 when it is seen rolling off in sparkling globules, like so many large pearls. 

 The bird then shakes its wings, beats the water, and as if giddy with deli.ght 

 shoots away, gliding over and beneath the surface of the liquid element with 

 surprising agility and grace. Imagine, reader, that a flock of 50 swans are 

 thus sporting before you, as they have more than once been in my sight, and 

 you will feel, as I have felt, more happy and void of care than I can descrilie. 



When swimming unmolested the swan shows the body buoyed up ; but when 

 apprehensive of danger, it sinks considerably lower. If resting and basking 

 in the sunshine, it draws one foot expanded curiously toward the back, and in 

 that posture remains often for half an hour at a time. When making off 

 swiftly, the tarsal joint, or knee as it is called, is seen about an inch above the 

 water, which now in wavelets passes over the lower part of the neck and along 

 the sides of the body, as it undulates on the planks of a vessel gliding with a 

 gentle breeze. Unless during tlie courting season, or wdiile passing by its mate, 

 I never saw a swan witli the wings raised and expanded, as it is alleged 

 they do, to profit by the breeze that may blow to assist their progress ; and 

 yet I have pursued some in canoes to a considerable distance, and that without 

 overtaking them, or even obliging them to take to wing. You, reader, as well 

 as all the world, have seen swans laboring away on foot, and therefore I will 

 not trouble you with a description of their mode of walking, especially as it is 

 not much to be admired. 



Tlie notes of the trumpeter swan are described as loud, resonant 

 trumpetings, differing in tone and volume from those of the whist- 

 ling swan; the windpipe of the larger species has one more con- 

 volution, which enables it to produce a louder and more far-reaching 

 note on a lower key, with the musical resonance of a French horn. 



Winter. — For an account of its winter habits, we must again quote 

 Audubon (1840) as follows: 



The trumpeter swans make their appearance on the lower portions of the 

 waters of the Ohio about the end of October. They throw themselves at once 

 into the larger ponds or lakes at no great distance froni tlie river, giving a 

 marked preference to those which are closely surrounded by dense and tall 

 canebrakes, and there remain until the water is closed by ice, when they are 

 forced to proceed southward. During mild winters I have seen swans of this 

 species in the ponds about Henderson until the beginning of March, but only 

 a few individuals, which may have stayed there to recover from their wounds. 

 When the cold became intense, most of those which visited the Ohio would 

 remove to the Mi.ssissippi, and proceed down that stream as tlie severity of the 



