SWAN OF CURRITUCK SOUND 161 



common mute swans floating about in the artificial 

 lakes of our city parks to imagine the grandeur of 

 a flock of the great whistlers in their wild state. 

 As the huge birds rise into the air it seems as if 

 an aerial regatta were being sailed overhead, the 

 swans, each with a Aving spread of six or seven 

 feet, moving like yachts under full sail. The sight 

 is one of the most impressive in nature. 



During the winter months swans may usuaUy be 

 seen in company with immense numbers of Canada 

 geese, and often with ducks of several species. 



Like many of their smaller relatives, swans 

 usually fly in wedge-shaped flocks, especially when 

 migrating. The habits of geese and swans are 

 more or less similar, grass and roots being their 

 chief food, but one rarely sees a swan tipping after 

 the manner of the river ducks, and never diving. 

 On windy days the flocks separate, the geese going 

 under the shelter of the land, while for some reason 

 the swans prefer a lee shore. 



Fortunately sportsmen have never seriously 

 regarded the swan as a game bird to any great 

 extent, though it is true that they shoot them when 

 opportunity occurs. Their vdldness, however, 

 almost prohibits stalking them, though if it were 

 allowed (and fortunately at present it is not) they 

 might occasionally be shot from fast launches. 

 Perhaps the greatest safeguard is in the fact that 

 rifle shooting is prohibited, at least nominally. As 

 an article of food the swan does not appeal to most 

 people — in fact only the younger birds, known as 

 " blue swans," are fit to eat. So on this account 

 they do not suffer from that greatest of all enemies 



W.L.C. M 



