14 WHISTLING SWAN. 



They bear confinement well, and will soon become 

 very docile, as shown by the following anecdote from 

 Montagu, respecting a female of this species which 

 was shot near Bridge water in 1805. " This beau- 

 tiful and docile bird is now alive (1813), and in high 

 health, living with many other sorts of Ducks in the 

 greatest harmony. Towards the spring she becomes 

 more clamorous, and impatient of confinement ; but 

 at all times will approach those persons in the habit 

 of feeding her, and will take food from the hand, at 

 the same time uttering those plaintive and harmo- 

 nious notes for which the species have been remark- 

 able, and which are attended with a singular jerk 

 of the head. She usually carries her neck straight 

 and erect, either upon the water, or when stationary 

 onland ; but in walking, the head is lowered, and the 

 neck reclining over the back. In the season of love 

 she frequently flaps along the surface of the water, 

 and would undoubtedly fly, if the precaution of an- 

 nually cutting the feathers of one wing was omitted. 

 Her nature is gentle, timid, and sociable ; will follow 

 those with whom she is acquainted from one side of 

 the menagerie to the other, especially ladies of the 

 family dressed in white ; is often turned out of her 

 course by a pugnacious male Shieldrake, and acts 

 only offensively when food is the object, and then 

 only where resentment is not expected. She eats 

 but little grass on land, but will devour aquatic plants 

 occasionally ; barley, however, is her principal food ; 

 and she never attempts to touch bread, which is 

 sometimes thrown to other birds ; nor will she devour 

 small fish." 



