AXATin.f; — THE SWANS — OLOR 



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l)oth this HpocieH and the O. biicdiiafor viHit Hudson'H Bay in the aummer, and that 

 there appoared to be no p«'re»'ptil)ln difforenet' Ix'tweon them exeept in Hize. (). Colum- 

 A/V/wi'swa.s then the more eommoii one near llin Hca-eoast. Imt was liy no means aliun- 

 daiii, lieinR seen only in jiairs, or occasionally singly, where the mate had been shot 

 on tlio passage nortli. The weight of this bird lie gives as varying from nineteen to 

 twenty-four pounds. 



According to Uichanison, this Swan arrives in the Arctic IJcgions later tlian the 

 (toese, and l)reeds on the small lakes of the coast and islands of the Arctic Sea. its 

 nest is generally plai-ed ou a small island, and is (!onstrueted of- any htose nniterials 

 which happen to be in the inimeiliate vicinity. These are heai>ed together until a 

 hirge mound is iornied. 'i'his Itird is very shy. and can usually be killed only at 

 a long shot with a ball. In its migrations soni*' flocks (U'e said to cross the interior, 

 imt the greater part follow the coast-line of Hudson's Hay. Richardson states fnr- 

 tiier that it is only seen in the interior of the I'ur Countries on its passage. He 

 mentions that Captain liyon describes its nest as being Imilt of moss-peat, and as 

 having a length of nearly six feet, a width of four and three (piarters, and a height 

 on the outside of two feet, the cavity being a foot .'ind a half in diameter. The eggs 

 are said by the same authority to be brownish white^ or wliite slightly clouded with 

 a brownish tint. 



Mr. George Harnston states that at ))resent, except in a few i)articular localities, 

 this Swan has become scarce on the shores of Hudson's Hay. It is seen at the same 

 time as tlm other migratory birds, winging its way to more secluded ret-esses in the 

 north, nesting throughout the interior. In the scarcity of its favorite food, the roots 

 of the Saiflttarla suffittlfoUti, it has recourse to those of the Kijui'srtuic.u' and the ten- 

 der underground runners of certain grasses iieculiar to northern latitudes. A few 

 of these birds are said by him to stop to breed in the interior, and not to reach the 

 Arctic coast. Mr. Barnston had two eggs brought to him from a nest on the banks 

 of a lake near Norway J louse; but these eggs weie probably those of <), hiiecinntor 

 A considerable niunber of this s])ecies hatch near Eastman's Fort, in James Bay. As 

 an article of food Mr. Barnston regards this bird as being decidedly inferior to Geese 

 of every description — differing in this respect from most writers. 



From NovenilM'r to March this Swan is abundant in the waters of the Chesapeake 

 and in all the inlets of North Carolina. In the latter it is now said to be more com- 

 mon than formerly, having been partially driven from Chesapeake Bay by the severity 

 of the warfare waged u|)on it. An occasional specimen, according to Major Wedder- 

 burn, is seen in the Bernnida Islands. 



An experienced sj)ortsman who contributed an account of this species to "Doughty's 

 Cabinet" states that, unless the weather at the north has l)een unusually severe, this 

 species rarely appears in the Chesapeake until the middle of November. He adds 

 that this Swan, when less than five years old, is by far the finest eating of any of 

 tiie Waterfowl found on that bay. It possesses the flavor of the finest Goose, and is 

 iar more tender. The length of time that its flesh can be preserved untainted is also 

 mentioned as remarkable, this same writer having seen one still perfectly sweet four 

 weeks after its death, no other method of preservation than an exposure to the air 

 having been employed. 



The age of this Swan may be known by the color of the feathers, the yearling 

 k'ing of a deep leaden tint, with a delicate red bill. In the second year it has a 

 lighter color, and a white bill. In the third season the bill has become jet black, 

 and about one third of the nlumage is still tipped Avith gray; and until it is fully 

 five years old an occasional cher will present this tint of youth. This bird is sup- 



