WHISTLING SVVAN. 21 



by another; the late leader taking a position back in the 

 ranks. Before alighting, the ground and water beneath 

 them are carefully examined for any hidden foe, and after 

 the leader is satisfied that all is right, with graceful 

 curves, and easy sailings on their great wings, the birds 

 alight upon the water and commence to feed. 



This Swan makes its appearance on the Atlantic 

 coast about the beginning of November. It is rare 

 north of the Chesapeake, but very numerous on 

 the littoral waters of North Carolina, and appar- 

 ently is more abundant there every year. They 

 arrive in small flocks, succeeding each other on some 

 days in rapid succession; passing at times over the 

 beach, again over the ocean, or the water inside the 

 beach. They fly usually at a considerable height, 

 and the beat of their great wings is so short as to 

 give these the appearance of being almost motionless. 

 The black feet extend beyond the tail, and with the long 

 neck stretched out to its fullest extent, the great birds 

 survey the landscape beneath them. Occasionally the 

 peculiar flageolet-like note is uttered by the leader, the 

 syllables sounding something like Who, who-who, in a 

 very high key, and this being responded to by other 

 members of the flock, a chorus of weird sounds from out 

 the upper air floats downward to the ear of the watcher 

 below. Beautiful indeed, the splendid birds appear, sail-" 

 ing onward in the blue sky, the bright rays of a midday 

 sun glancing from their immaculate plumage, causing it 

 to glisten with the sheen of burnished silver, or, if the 

 birds are passing directly overhead, the light streaming 

 through the feathers of the wings reflects on the under 

 side and also on the body, a glow like the faint blush on 

 the petals of a rose. With redoubled cries the glad birds 

 welcome the well-known waters of their winter home, 



