WILD FOWL. 67 



sound from the motion of the feathers of their wings. If bound 

 to a distant place, they form themselves in angular lines, and 

 probably the leader of the flock is one of the oldest of the males ; 

 but of this I am not at all sure, as I have seen at the head of the 

 line a gray bird, which must have been a young one of that year. 



" This Swan feeds principally by partially immersing the 

 body, and extending the neck under water, in the manner of 

 fresh water Ducks, and some species of Geese, when the feet 

 are often seen working in the air, as if to aid in preserving the 

 balance. Often, however, it resorts to the land, and there picks 

 at the herbage, not sideways as Geese do, but more in the 

 manner of Ducks and poultry. Its food consists of roots of dif- 

 ferent vegetables, leaves, seeds, various aquatic insects, land 

 snails, small reptiles, and quadrupeds. The flesh of a Cygnet is 

 pretty good eating, but that of an old bird is dry and tough. 



" Dr. Richardson informs us, that it * is the most common 

 Swan in the interior of the fur countries. It breeds as far South 

 as latitude 61°, but principally within the Arctic Circle ; it 

 precedes the Goose a few days in its migrations." — Audubon's 

 Birds of America. 



WILD GEESE. 



THE CANADA GOOSE. 



Anas Canadensis ; Wilson. Anser Canadensis ; Bon. Syn. Anser 

 Canadensis; Sw. Sf Rich. F. Bor. Americ. — Vulgo, The Wild 

 Goose. 



" Male, 43.65. Female, 41. 



*' Breeds sparingly from the Mississippi to Nova Scotia, 

 abundantly in Labrador, and farther North. In the interior on 

 the Missouri, and across to the Columbia River, abundant. Mi- 

 grates in winter." — Audubon's Birds of America. 



