136 AMERICAN SWAN. 



miles or more an hour. I have often timed the flight of the Goose, 

 and found one mile a minute a common rapidity, and when the two 

 birds, in a change of feeding-ground, have been flying near each other, 

 which I have often seen, the Swan invariably passed with nearly double 

 the velocity. 



" The Swans in travelling from the northern parts of America to 

 their winter residence, generally keep far inland, mounted above the 

 highest peaks of the Alleghany, and rarely follow the water-courses 

 like the Geese, which usually stop on the route, particularly if they 

 have taken the sea-board. The Swans rarely pause on their migrating 

 flight, unless overtaken by a storm, above the reach of which occur- 

 rence they generally soar. They have been seen following the coast 

 in but very few instances. They arrive at their winter homes in Oc- 

 tober and November, and immediately take possession of their regular 

 feeding-grounds. They generally reach these places in the night, and 

 the first signal of their arrival at their winter abode is a general burst 

 of melody, making the shores ring for several hours with their vocife- 

 rating congratulations, whilst making amends for a long fast, and 

 pluming their deranged feathers. From these localities they rarely 

 depart unless driven farther south by intensely cold weather, until 

 their vernal excursion. When the spring arrives, a similar collection 

 of forces as at the north takes place in March, and, after disturbing the 

 tranquil bosom of the water for a night, by incessant washing and 

 dressing, and alarming the quiet neighbourhood by a constant clatter 

 of consulting tongues, they depart for the north about daylight with a 

 general feu-de-joie of unmusical screams. 



" The Chesapeake Bay is a great resort for Swans during the winter, 

 and whilst there they form collections of from one to five hundred on 

 the flats, near the western shores, and extend from the outlet of the 

 Susquehannah river, almost to the Rip Raps. The connecting streams 

 also present fine feeding grounds. They always select places where 

 they can reach their food by the length of their necks, as they have 

 never, so far as I can learn, been seen in this part of the world, to dive 

 under the water, either for food or safety. Hearne says, that at Hud- 

 son's Bay, " by diving and other manoeuvres, it is impossible to take 

 them by the hand while moulting." I have often seated myself for 

 hours, within a short distance of several Inmdred swans, to watch their 

 habits and manners, and never saw one pass entirely under the water, 



