200 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



Squibnocket Pond, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., by Mr. Gardiner 

 Hammond, one on November 28, 1906, and the other on the 

 next day. These are now in the Thayer collection at Lan- 

 caster, Mass.i John Burroughs has seen Swans passing in 

 migration on the Hudson at a great height. It is easy for them 

 to fly at such a height as to be above the notice of ordinary 

 observers, and if any of the descendants of the Swans which 

 once followed a flightway over New England are still living, 

 they probably pursue the same line that was followed by then- 

 ancestors. Possibly a few still may breed in Labrador and 

 migrate down the Atlantic seaboard. Mr. E. T. Carbonnell 

 says that several flocks have been seen in Charlottetown, 

 P. E. I., in recent years. One flew over the city in 1909. 



In moving from their arctic homes in autumn the Swans 

 seemingly divide their forces; part going toward the Pacific 

 coast, part southeastward toward the south Atlantic States 

 and part south through the region of the Mississippi valley. 

 They seem to fly undeviatingly across the country, crossing 

 river valleys or mountain ranges, steering a course straight 

 for their distant goal. When they arrive at their destination 

 they pay little attention to decoys, but busy themselves by 

 plunging their heads to the bottom in shallow water and 

 digging up the bottom grass with their beaks. When they 

 find the favorite morsels they often dig large holes in the 

 bottom. The Swan does not dive, but can readily reach bot- 

 tom in about three feet of water by standing on its head on 

 the bottom and paddling with its feet to keep its balance. 

 When undisturbed it is a noisy bird, though silent when 

 alarmed. When a flock is at ease, their weird, high-keyed 

 calls and deeper tones may be heard in chorus. Dawson 

 says that the bass horns "of tin rather than brass" are blown 

 by the old fellows, while varied notes, like those of the clari- 

 net, come from the cygnets or young birds. ^ Nevertheless, 

 the old males often give utterance to very high shrill notes 

 when leading the flock in flight. 



One of the supposed myths of antiquity is the song of 



1 Thayer, J. E.: Auk, 1907, p. 212. 



' Dawson, William Leoa, and Jonea, Lyndes: Birds of Ohio, 1903, Vol. II, p. 572. 



