120 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



behind?' issues from the leader, which is always replied to by some posterior Swan with an 'All's 

 well!' vociferation. When the leader of the party becomes fatigued with his extra duty of 

 cutting the air, he falls into the rear, and his neighbour takes his place. When mounted, as they 

 sometimes are, several thousand feet above the earth, with their delicate outline scarcely perceptible 

 against the clear blue of heaven, this harsh sound, softened and modulated by distance, and issuing 

 from the immense void above, assumes a supernatural kind of tone." 



The permanent habitat of the Swans is always upon large lakes of fresh water, or in marshy 

 situations where fresh water is abundant. During their migrations, however, they take up a temporary 

 residence on water of any kind. Their nests are generally placed on rivers or fresh-water lakes, but 

 probably this is only on account of the shallowness of such situations, as after the breeding season 

 some betake themselves to the sea, or wherever food is most abundantly procurable. The Swans are 

 only active in the day, and even their migrations are never carried on by night. In their locomotive 

 capabilities they surpass most other Swimming Birds. Their domain is the water, and it is only 

 unwillingly that they ever venture on dry land ; nor do they readily take wing, unless compelled to do 

 so by unavoidable necessity. The very backward position of their legs renders walking on land 

 difficult, so that when on dry ground their gait is heavy and vacillating. Their flight apparently 

 requires considerable effort, more especially when they attempt to rise from the surface of the water ; 

 when, however, they have gained a certain altitude, it is extremely rapid. It would appear almost 

 impossible for these birds to rise from the ground, and they never venture to alight on dry land. 

 When beginning their flight from the water, they always stretch out their necks horizontally to their full 

 length, striking the surface with their wings, and splashing with their broad-soled feet ; and thus, half 

 flying and half walking, they proceed for a distance of from forty to eighty feet, before they can 

 acquire impetus to enable them to mount into the air. When, however, this is once accomplished, 

 their movements are perfectly easy and free. When alighting from their flight they glide obliquely 

 downwards to the water, and when they have nearly reached it, spread out their webbed feet to stay their 

 headlong career, and moderate the shock of their descent. As relates to their vocal powers, different 

 species of Swans vary considerably ; some appear to be mute, but generally speaking their cry may be 

 said to have somewhat the sound of a trumpet, and much resembles the voice of the Cranes. Some 

 commonly, however, only utter a loud hissing or a low muttering noise ; in other species, on the 

 contrary, the voice is loud and powerful, and somewhat varied, so that when heard from a distance 

 its effect is by no means disagreeable. The cry of the male is always louder and of a deeper tone 

 than that of the female. The young " pipe," like young Geese. The manners of Swans are gentle, 

 and rather shy, nevertheless they exhibit a certain degree of vanity and consciousness of power, 

 often manifested in their domineering behaviour towards other Water-fowl. Only those of the 

 same species associate in large numbers, and they seem particularly jealous of intruders. The 

 matrimonial engagements of these birds are kept with exemplary fidelity, and last throughout their 

 lives. No sooner have they paired, than the happy couple begin to show the tenderest affection 

 towards each other, manifested by innumerable graceful caresses ; they swim together with indefatigable 

 constancy, and should danger approach defend each other with the utmost courage and self-devotion. 

 Their care for their young progeny is equally remarkable. Although the male does not himself 

 actually take a share in the duties of incubation, all his energies seem to be devoted to the protection 

 of his mate during her patient retirement, and he may at such times always be seen, either swimming 

 proudly and defiantly around her, or reposing in the immediate vicinity of the nest, as though to cheer 

 her confinement by his presence. Although the labour of nidification seems to devolve principally 

 upon the female, she is eagerly assisted by her mate, whose employment seems chiefly to be the 

 procuration of materials, which he supplies abundantly, dragging them with his beak, sometimes from 



