DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 239 



CHAPTER XII. 



DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



THE birds mentioned in the heading of this chap- 

 ter are familiar to all, as they are represented 

 by domesticated forms and are not restricted to any 

 particular locality, the Swans being less common 

 than the others, because ornamental rather than use- 

 ful. Geese, Ducks, and Swans as " wild fowl," how- 

 ever, are vastly different from their tamed representa- 

 tives. The latter have lost all their charm, unless 

 the stateliness of the swan be worthy of exception ; 

 but these birds seen on the broad waters of the 

 Chesapeake, or far north, in their breeding haunts, 

 are in all things the superiors of their subdued cousins 

 of the public parks. 



Ducks, Geese, and Swans are represented in 

 North America by fifty-three species, there being 

 three swans (one only in Greenland), two tree- 

 ducks (only found in Mexico and in limited districts 

 adjoining that country's northern boundary), seven 

 or eight geese, and the rest true ducks. The greater 

 number of these birds are widely scattered, and are 

 a prominent feature not only of our sea-coast at cer- 

 tain seasons, but follow up all our watercourses and 

 reach the interior of our country pretty thoroughly. 

 Strong of wing, mere distance has no significance 



