20 CANADA SWAN. 



vent white : primaries black, reaching to the extre- 

 mity of the tail : sides pale ashy-brown : legs and 

 feet dusky-ash. Both sexes resemble each other. 



Common in a wild state in most parts of North 

 America, and also in some of the northern regions of 

 Europe, but domesticated in the southern. They 

 appear in the United States of America during their 

 autumnal and vernal migrations in great numbers : 

 their first arrival on the coast of New Jersey is in 

 October, and if abundant are said to be a sure pro- 

 gnostic of severe weather : some continue all the win- 

 ter, and frequent the shallow bays and marshy islands ; 

 their principal food being the broad tender green 

 leaves of a marine plant, and also the roots of the 

 sedge ; they occasionally frequent the inlets for gravel. 

 They swim well, and if a wing be broken, dive and 

 go a great way under water. Their flight is heavy 

 and laborious, generally in a straight line, or in two 

 lines approximating to a point, in the form of the 

 letter V ; in both cases the van is led by an old 

 gander, who every now and then utters his cry, 

 which is returned by another of the party. Their 

 course is in a straight line, with the exception of the 

 undulations in their flight. Pennant gives the fol- 

 lowing interesting account of the method of taking 

 them in Hudson's Bay : " The English of Hudson's 

 Bay depend greatly on Geese, of these and other 

 kinds, for their support, and in favourable years kill 

 three or four thousand, which they salt and barrel. 

 Their arrival is impatiently attended ; it is the har- 

 binger of the spring, and the month named by the 

 Indians the goose-moon. They appear usually at 



