102 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



These beautiful birds, never at any point abundant, are seldom 

 seen in Ontario, because they breed in the far north, and generally 

 make their migratory journey along the sea coast, east or west, where 

 they spend the winter. 



In the interior they are sometimes seen singly or in pairs at the 

 shooting stations, where rifle bullets and buck shot at once come into 

 demand. 



I once saw four, in full adult plumage, come up Lake Ontario on 

 a stormy afternoon toward the end of March. They alighted for a 

 short time on the open water near the canal, but had a wild, restless 

 look, evidently feeling themselves off their route, and they soon 

 wheeled around and went oif east again. 



On another occasion a family of four visited Hamilton Bay in the 

 fall. They were not allowed to remain long undisturbed, and one 

 young bird was so disabled by a pellet of shot in the wing, that it 

 was prevented from leaving with the others. It could still take care 

 of itself, however, and remained till the bay was frozen over, when it 

 walked ashore, and was captured in an exhausted condition by one of 

 the fishermen. 



Writing from Dunnville, in August, 1893, Dr. Macallum says : 

 " On the 24th of April last, a fine young female Whistling S.wan was 

 shot here, which had been frequenting the river for about six weeks. 

 One or more of this species visit us every spring." 



During such visits they sometimes get bewildered by fog, and so 

 fall into the hands of the enemy. 



Dr. Bell tells us : " This species breeds near Churchill, and on 

 the islands toward the eastern side of Hudson's Bay. Their skins 

 constitute an article of trade, but only a small number of them are 

 collected annually." 



For further particulars of their habits we turn again to Mr. Nelson, 

 who is one of the few who have been privileged to see the birds in 

 their northern home. 



He says: "The last of June or first of July the young are hatched, 

 and soon after the parents lead them to the vicinity of some large 

 lake or stream, and there the old birds moult their quUl feathers, and 

 are unable to fly. They are pursued by the natives at this season, 

 and many are speared from canoes and kyaks. Although unable 

 to fly, it is no easy task, single-handed, to capture them alive. The 

 young men among the Eskimo consider it a remarkable exhibition 

 of fleetness and endurance for one of their number to capture a 

 bird by running it down. 



