Ducks, GEESE, AND SWANS. 239 
CHAPTER XII. 
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 
HE birds mentioned in the heading of this chap- 
ter are familiar to all, as they are represented 
by domesticated forms and are not restricted to any 
particular locality, the Swans being less common 
than the others, because ornamental rather than use- 
ful. Geese, Ducks, and Swans as “ wild fowl,” how- 
ever, are vastly different from their tamed representa- 
tives. The latter have lost all their charm, unless 
the stateliness of the swan be worthy of exception; 
but these birds seen on the broad waters of the 
Chesapeake, or far north, in their breeding haunts, 
are in all things the superiors of their subdued cousins 
of the public parks. 
Ducks, Geese, and Swans are represented in 
North America by fifty-three species, there being 
three swans (one only in Greenland), two tree- 
ducks (only found in Mexico and in limited districts 
adjoining that country’s northern boundary), seven 
or eight geese, and the rest true ducks. The greater 
number of these birds are widely scattered, and are 
a prominent feature not only of our sea-coast at cer- 
tain seasons, but follow up all our watercourses and 
reach the interior of our country pretty thoroughly. 
Strong of wing, mere distance has no significance 
