394 THE SWAN. 



country round is but thinly inhabited, wild birds abound. 

 Amongst others, it is thronged with Swans, which select 

 the long sandy headlands for the site of their nests. 

 They assemble in numerous flights about these creeks, 

 during the breeding season. Aware of .this, the people 

 who collect their feathers start in pursuit of them, the 

 old birds being then busy hatching and breeding their 

 young. The feathers are drifted on shore by the tide, 

 and collected. The produce is sold to dealers, who 

 come from the neighbouring towns of Oczakof and Cher- 

 son, and eagerly bid against each other. Sometimes 

 the quills will fetch as much as three pounds per thou- 

 sand, though the usual price does not exceed twenty-two 

 shillings. They are also an article of trade amongst 

 the people of the Crimea, who live near extensive morasses 

 and marshes, as well as the peasants on the coast of the 

 Sea of Azof, in the direction of Marapot. 



