214 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



The largest flock I have seen recently numbered 14 birds; that 

 was some 12 miles down the river. 



I am indebted to Captain W. E. Leggatt, of Stanley, for the 

 following interesting note : — ■ 



" During the day the Black Swan keeps to the salt water, and 

 feeds over the sandy mud-flats which are covered by the tide. It 

 ii3 timid, and approaches no nearer the shore than the depth of 

 water allows, swimming in as the tide flows and retreating with 

 the ebb, keeping always in such a position that it can comfortably 

 reach the bottom with its bill. At the least strange sound it raises 

 its head above water and looks about, and if all is not quiet moves 

 out from the shore. It is very sensitive with regard to hear- 

 ing, and it is almost impossible to approach within a couple of 

 hundred yards of it if you are to windward, so that it is always 

 necessary to keep to leeward if you wish to approach close, and 

 then great care must be taken that you do not expose yourself in 

 any way. 



"Black Swans generally keep together in large flocks; it is 

 seldom that one sees a couple at any distance from hundreds of 

 others. If the tide, when receding, leaves large banks uncovered, 

 the Swans, after having obtained sufficient food, generally bask 

 in the sun on these banks and go to sleep. Towards evening they 

 make a move towards the river mouths and creeks, and stay in 

 there all night, and so by getting up early one has a good chance 

 of obtaining an easy shot at them by taking up a position at the 

 mouth of a river and waiting for them to swim by. 



"The Black Swan does not like rough water, and always 

 moves as the wind changes, so that it may feed peacefully under 

 the lee of some bank or point. When moulting it loses all the 

 white feathers from its wings and is unable to fly. If pursued 

 when in that condition it can travel at a great speed by swimming, 

 and then, using its wings as in flying, flap itself along the top of 

 the water, but if closely followed and made to keep this up for 

 some time it soon gets exhausted. • 



' ' At ordinary times it has great difficulty in rising from the 

 ground unless facing the wind, and even then covers a good space 

 before it rises clear. 



" They are as-a rule easily killed, a single grain of large shot in 

 the head or neck being quite sufficient to cause death. 



" The above remarks apply to the North-West Coast, to which 

 portion of Tasmania my experience with this bird has been 

 confined." 



Sub- Family — Anseranatinae. 

 PIED GOOSE 



(Anseranas semipal-mata, Lath.) 

 Male. — "Head, neck, mantle, wings, tail, and thighs black; 

 back, rump, breast, abdomen, upper and under tail coverts. 



