tSa tHE WHOOPER SWAN 



In Iceland, the summer resort of these birds, they are much sought 

 after for the sake of their down. In the month of August, when the 

 old birds, having cast their quiU-feathers, are unable to fly, the 

 natives assemble in bodies in the places where the Swans coUect, 

 and mounted on small but active horses chase them through the 

 marshes, and ride many of them down ; but the greater number 

 are caught by the dogs, which always seize the birds by the neck, 

 and so encumber them that they are then easily overtaken. But 

 it is not the habit of Swans to remain much on land ; the perfect 

 ease with which they float and swim indicates that the water is their 

 element, and a glance at their long necks tells at once that their 

 nature is to feed in shallow water or on the margin of deep lakes, 

 where with their strong bills they either tear up the stems and 

 roots of aquatics from the bottom, or crop at their pleasure from 

 the banks. To this kind of food they add such insects, moUuscs 

 and worms as come within their reach ; and (when sailing in salt 

 water) sea-weeds, and especially the long, ribbon-like leaves of 

 zost^ra. During summer they frequent the most secluded swamps 

 and lakes in the wooded districts of the north, and buUd a very large 

 nest in a spot unapproachable by human feet. A few go no farther 

 north than the Orkneys and Shetlands, but their headquarters 

 are Siberia, Iceland, Lapland, and Hudson's Bay. 



After they have recovered from their summer moult, they migrate 

 southwards, and arrive in Scotland, sometimes in large flocks, 

 early in October. Mr. St. John, in his Wild Sports of the High- 

 lands, gives an interesting account of their habits while in this 

 country. He went in pursuit of a flock which had selected for 

 their winter feeding-place some fresh-water lochs about half a mUe 

 from the sea. They passed the day mostly on the salt water, and 

 in the evening came inland to feed. He found them on one of the 

 smaller lochs, some standing high and dry on the grassy islands 

 trimming their feathers after their long voyage, and others feeding 

 on the grass and weeds at the bottom of the loch, which in some 

 parts Wcis shallow enough to allow of their pulling up the plants 

 which they fed on as they swam about, whUe numbers of wild 

 Ducks of different kinds, particularly Wigeons, swarmed round 

 them, and often snatched the pieces of grass from the Swans as 

 soon as they had brought them to the surface, to the great annoy- 

 ance of the noble birds, who endeavoured in vain to drive away 

 these most active little depredators, who seemed determined to 

 profit by their labours. ' I observed ', he says, ' that frequently all 

 their heads were under the water at once, excepting one — ^but 

 invariably one had kept his head and neck perfectly erect, and 

 carefully watched on every side to prevent their being taken by 

 surprise ; when he wanted to feed, he touched any passer-by, 

 who immediately relieved him in his guard, and he in his turn 

 called on some other Swan to take his place as sentinel.' 



