BIRDS OF KANSAS. 107 



I 



of the most noted. Socrates says: "When Swans perceive ap- 

 proaching death, they sing more merrily than before, because 

 of the joy they have in going to the God they serve." Aris- 

 totle says: "Swans are wont to sing, particularly when about 

 to die." And Cicero says of Lucius Crassus, that "He spake 

 with the divine voice of a Swan about to die." Pliny, one of 

 the first to doubt, says: "Some affirm that Swans sing lamenta- 

 bly a little before death, but untruly, I suppose, for experience 

 in many has shown the contrary." 



Their flight is rapid and well sustained, and, when migrating, 

 very high in the air, in a triangular form. While not quite 

 as swift as the Trumpeter, it is estimated to fly in a calm, or 

 with a favorable wind, about one hundred miles an hour. On 

 the ground they are not very graceful, but on the water a pic- 

 ture of grace and ease; when on the lookout, carry their necks 

 erect, but when they think they are unobserved, as well as dur- 

 ing courtship, bend their necks in wavy, graceful curves, and, 

 with partially raised feathers, arched wings, and head drawn 

 down and back as if ready for a charge, swiftly and stately 

 glide before each other, and in various ways make the greatest 

 display possible, not only before their mates, but to gratify an 

 unbounded vanity; for they are very proud birds and are con- 

 scious of their good looks. During courtship the males have 

 many a hard fight for their lady love, but once mated, are true 

 and devoted to each other, the males sharing in the duties of 

 hatching, and in rearing the young; and in the defense of the 

 sartfe display extraordinary courage, boldly attacking an enemy, 

 and, with furious strokes of their powerful wings, compel a hasty 

 retreat. These birds have been found breeding from the Yu- 

 kon and Anderson rivers, north along the coast, and upon the 

 islands in the Arctic sea. Their nests are placed on marshy 

 grounds near the water's edge, are very large, and built of reeds, 

 rushes, bog moss, or any material at hand, and lined with down, 

 with which the eggs are also covered. Eggs five to seven. A 

 set of two, taken by Mr. MacFarlane, July 5th, 1864, on an 

 island in Franklin Bay, are, in dimensions: 4.07x2.63, 

 2.67; dull white, with a buffy tint; in form, oval. 



