NORTHERN OCEAN. 
are very numerous in fome of the fhallow ftony 
rivers. Inthe Fall of the year they are very fat, 
and though they always feed on fifh, yet their 
flefh at that feafon is very good; and they re. 
main in thofe parts as long as the froft will per- 
mit them to procure a fubfiltence. 
437 
Swans. ‘There are two fpecies of this bird swans. 
that vifit Hudfon’s Bay in fummer ; and only 
differ in fize, as the plumage of both are perfect- 
ly white, with black bill and legs. The {maller 
fort are more frequent near the fea-coaft, but by 
no means plentiful, and are moft frequently feen 
in pairs, but fometimes fingle, probably owing to 
their mates having been killed on their paflage 
North. Both fpecies ufually breed on the iflands 
which are in lakes; and the eggs of the larger 
{pecies are fo big, that one of them 1s a fuflicient 
meal for a moderate man, without bread, or any 
other addition. In the interior parts of the coun- 
try the larger Swan precedes every other {pecies 
of water-fowl, and in fome years arrive fo early 
as the month of March, long before the ice of the 
rivers is broken up. At thofe times they always 
frequent the open waters of falls and rapids, where 
they are frequently fhot by the Indians in confi- 
derable numbers. They ufually weigh upwards 
of thirty pounds, and the lefler fpecies from 
eighteen to twenty-four. The flefh of both are 
excellent eating, and when roafted, is equal in 
flavour to young heifer-beef, and the cygnets are 
very delicate. 
Nat- 
