146 WILD-FOWL 



Formerly it was the practice to sail down on the birds, 

 going with the wind. Since the heavy birds are com- 

 pelled to rise against the wind and do so with diffi- 

 culty they were often taken in this way, but shooting 

 from sailing boats and all motor boats is now prohib- 

 ited by law, and this protection, no doubt, is one of 

 the causes of the increase of the swans on the club 

 preserves. 



Swans when flying about are often so high as to be 

 out of range and always on the lookout for danger. 

 It is, of course, impossible to get near them with a 

 boat propelled by oars. 



The young swans are fairly good to eat, but the old 

 birds are tough and not desirable as food. The young 

 are gray and easily distinguished from the old birds. 



I saw many swans in the Devil's Lake region, North 

 Dakota, some years ago, but they are not nearly so 

 abundant there or on the Pacific Coast as formerly. 



The trumpeter swan is named from its loud voice, 

 which is said to resemble the notes of a French horn. 

 This bird is found in the Mississippi valley and on 

 the Pacific Coast, but never appears on the Atlantic 

 Coast. 



Although the swans do not seem to be going fast, 

 on account of their labored flight, they in fact go one 

 hundred miles an hour; and anyone who will time the 

 birds as they fly out of sight will be convinced that 

 they are travelling rapidly. It is necessary to shoot 

 well ahead of them, and large charges of powder and 

 heavy shot are required to bring them down. 



The swans are so well able to get out of danger and 

 so careful not to come near it that a wild-swan chase 



