266 The Water-fowl Family 



upper Mississippi Valley and the lower waters of 

 the Ohio. Here it remains until freezing weather, 

 wintering occasionally in Texas and along the Gulf, 

 and found commonly in New Mexico and northern 

 Mexico. The favorite haunts are small, fresh- 

 water lakes, where the bird is seen in small flocks 

 or in pairs. 



They breed in large numbers on the fresh-water 

 ponds and lakes in the vicinity of Hudson Bay. 

 The nest is placed on the islands or low ground 

 among the reeds and is composed of grass. The 

 bird hatches in July and takes its young to the 

 neighboring water. During the moulting season, 

 in August, it is for a short time unable to fly. 



The habits of the trumpeter swan resemble 

 those of its relative, but its note is different, being 

 much more sonorous. It is a strong, high flyer 

 and difficult to kill, the wounded birds swimming 

 with rapidity and often eluding capture. The 

 food consists of water-grasses and vegetable mat- 

 ter, sometimes small shellfish, the bird feeding in 

 shallow water, with the body above the surface. 

 The flesh of the young bird is excellent. 



This swan is the largest representative of our 

 water-fowl, and undoubtedly attains great age. 

 There are instances on record where it has lived 

 many years in confinement. If taken young, it 

 becomes remarkably tame, and has been domesti- 

 cated successfully in various places throughout 

 this country. 



