THE AMERICAN SWAN. 239 
be scarce south of this, its principal haunts being to 
the northward. During the summer months the 
shores of the Polar Sea afford it a safe retreat, where 
it may rear its young in comparative safety 
American Swan. 
The flight of these birds is powerful and rapid, 
and is often prolonged to a wonderful extent. Dur- 
ing their migrations they soar to a great height, over- 
topping the mountains, and seldom pause during the 
journey between our latitude and the place of their 
summer abode, except when their progress is impeded 
by a storm, above the region of which they mostly 
travel. They always advance in small flocks in the 
shape of a V, the leader being at the point. When 
they arrive at the place of their destination, which 
is generally at night, they occupy themselves at once 
in making amends for their long abstinence from food, 
and join in a wild chorus of congratulations which 
almost makes the shores ring. While feeding, or dur- 
