230 AMERICAN SWAN. 



"When wounded in the wing alone, a large Swan will readily beat off a 

 dog, and is more than a match for a man in four feet water, a stroke of the 

 wing having broken an arm, and the powerful feet almost obliterating the 

 face of a good-sized duck-shooter. They are often killed by rifle-balls 

 thrown from the shore into the feeding-column, and as a ball will richochet 

 on the w r ater for several hundred yards, a wing may be disabled at the 

 distance of half a mile. 



"These birds are often brought within shooting range by sailing down 

 upon them whilst feeding, and, as they arise against the wind, and cannot 

 leave the water for fifteen or twenty yards, against which they strike their 

 enormous feet and wings most furiously, great advantage is gained in distance. 

 They must be allowed on all occasions to turn the side, for a breast-shot 

 rarely succeeds in entering. 



"When two feeding coves are separated by a single point, by disturbing 

 the Swans in one or the other occasionally, they will pass and repass very 

 closely to the projection of land, and usually taking, as they do, the straight 

 line, each gunner, to prevent dispute, indicates the bird he will shoot at. 



"In winter, boats covered by pieces of ice, the sportsman being dressed in 

 white, are paddled or allowed to float during the night into the midst of a 

 flock, and they have been oftentimes killed, by being knocked on the head 

 and neck by a pole. There is, however, much danger in this mode, as others 

 may be engaged in like manner, and shooting at a short distance, the persons 

 might not be distinguished from the Swans. These birds seem well aware 

 of the range of a gun, and I have followed them in a skiff for miles, driving 

 a body of several hundreds before me, without the possibility of getting quite 

 within shooting distance. 



"The skins of Swans still covered by the down, which is very thick, are 

 often used in our country for bonnets and tippets. The Indians also employ 

 the skins for dresses for their women of rank, and the feathers for ornaments 

 for the head. 



"When more than one person is shooting, it is usual for each to select a 

 particular Swan, and if there be not enough for all, two will take a particu- 

 larly good bird, and, if it be killed, will decide its possession afterwards, by 

 some play of chance. Few are willing to take the first bird, even though 

 their position of last in the direction of flight would compel them, according 

 to usage, to do so, not only from the difficulty and uselessness of killing the 

 old ones, but because there is much less chance of a stray shot from a neigh- 

 bour's gun assisting in the destruction. 



"In the autumn of 1S29, the writer, with another person, was on Abby 

 Island, when seven Swans were approaching the point in one line, and 

 three others a short distance behind them. The small group appeared 



