FIELD-DAYS IN CALIFORNIA 



beach, — I found the swans in a bay or cove, 

 feeding so industriously (no sign of drowsiness 

 now) that they permitted me to draw near enough 

 to see plainly the small loral patch before men- 

 tioned. It was as good as a visiting-card. Hence- 

 forth I was in possession of their full name, Olor 

 columbiamis, the whistUng swan. 



As they fed, holding their heads under water 

 for a surprisingly long time, a number of ducks 

 collected in the vicinity, diving directly beside 

 them, almost or quite under them, in fact, as if 

 — what I doubted not was true — the long-necked 

 creatures were stirring up the muddy bottom with 

 a thoroughness which the ducks found highly to 

 their advantage. " Strange," says the note-book, 

 " how exceedingly small the ducks, even the can- 

 vasbacks, look. As for the ruddies and buffie- 

 heads, they look for all the world like ducklings 

 following their mothers about." The swans made 

 not the least objection to the ducks* persistent 

 and rather meddlesome looking activities ("Help 

 yourselves, children, help yourselves," they might 

 have been saying), but now and then they in- 

 dulged in what seemed like slight fallings-out 

 among themselves. 



When they had fed thus for some time, they 

 proceeded to bathe : after dinner the finger-bowl. 

 And a lively performance it was, with a deal of 



