THE WHISTLING SWAN. 18Q 



Distinctions from the tame species. 



extremely swift on the wing, when in full feather, 

 as to make them more difficult to be shot than 

 almost any other ; it. being frequently necessary 

 to aim ten or twelve feet before their bills. This, 

 however, is only when they are flying before the 

 wind in a brisk gale ; at which time they seldom 

 proceed at the rate of less than a hundred miles 

 an hour; but when flying across the wind or 

 against it, they are not able to make any great 

 progress. 



This species has several distinctions from that 

 of the tame swan. " Such/' says BuflTon, " is 

 the extraordinary difference between these two 

 animals, which seem to be of one species. Whe- 

 ther it is in the power of long continued capti- 

 vity and domestication to produce this strange 

 variety between birds,, otherwise the same, I will 

 not take upon me to determine. But certain it 

 is, that our tame swan is no where to be found, 

 at least in Europe, in a state of nature." 



The whistling swan emits its loud notes only 

 when flying, or calling: its sound is, " whoogh, 

 whoogh," very loud and shrill, but not disagree- 

 able when heard high in the air and modulated 

 by the winds. The Icelanders compare it to the 

 notes of the violin : they hear it at the end of 

 their long and gloomy winter, when the return 

 of the swans announces alsc the return of sum- 

 mer; every note therefore must be melodious 

 which presages a speedy thaw, and a release 

 from their tedious confinement, 



