24 



THE WHISTLING SWAN ON NIAGARA RIVER 



to their wings, attempted to stem the rushing waters, but here 

 their wonderful swimming powers were of no avail. They were 

 soon imprisoned in the ice where their pitiful cries were heart- 

 rending. 



The game laws of Ontario still permit the taking of geese 

 and swan in the spring until April 30th and it was not long be- 

 fore, men and boys, armed with guns and sticks, availed them- 



p 



- ■.:.;. 





^^ *■ V II -* 





Injured Swan. American Falls in background. 



Photographs by the Author 



selves of the privilege and became the chief factors in the 

 closing scene of Nature's great tragedy; — the sacrifice of the 

 swans. 



The news of a "Great Slaughter of Wild Swan" appeared 

 in the Buffalo newspapers on March 17th and the writer started 

 for Niagara Falls forthwith to investigate the matter. As 

 nearly as could be ascertained from interviews with various 

 participants in the "slaughter" the number of swans taken on 

 March 15th, was one hundred and two. Not all of these were 

 taken on the ice bridge. A number were pulled out of Bass 



