428 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
posed to live to a great age, and its flesli becomes exceedingly tough and tasteless. 
In consequence of this, the more experienced hunters of the Chesapeake usually 
allow the patriarchs of the flock, who lead in their flight, to pass unharmed. These 
old leaders have a note thought to resemble in a remarkable degree the sound of a 
common tin horn ; and the unmusical character of their cries increases in intensity 
with their age. 
In the autumn of 1829 the writer was, with another person, on Abby Island, when 
seven Swans were approaching the Point in one line, and three others were a short 
distance behind them. The small group endeavored to pass the larger, and as they 
doubled the Point, at about sixty yards’ distance, the three formed with the second 
birds of the larger flock a square of less than three feet. At this moment both guns 
were discharged and three Swans were killed, and the fourth so much injured that 
it left the flock. These were all less than five years old, and averaged eighteen 
pounds in weight. 
These Swans rarely, if ever, leave the open shores of the bay for the side streams, 
and few, after their regular settlement, are found above Spesutic Island ; but they 
are seen in flocks, varying from fifty to five hundred in number, along the western 
shores as far down as the mouth of the Potomac. Since these observations were 
made, however, the number of these birds frequenting that region has been greatly 
reduced. 
During a still night a few Swans could often be seen asleep in the middle of the 
bay, surrounded by a group of far more watchful Geese ; and the writer from whose 
account this information is derived was paddled, one morning at daybreak, within 
ten feet of a sleeping Swan. The food to which this bird seems to be most partial 
on the Chesapeake is the canvass-back grass, worms, insects, and small shellfish. It 
rarely actually flies, even when pursued by a boat, unless very closely followed ; and 
when it does rise, it is generally with a scream. On alighting in the water, particu- 
larly if any other birds of the same species are near, there is usually an interchange 
of noisy greetings. Even when one of the wings of this bird has been broken, it can 
swim with great rapidity, and if not otherwise hurt a single oarsman is rarely able to 
overtake it. 
Dr. Sharpless, of Philadelphia, states that he has known unwounded birds to 
collect around a crippled companion and urge it to escape, pushing it forward and 
placing themselves on each side, supporting the broken wing, and almost lifting the 
object of their affectionate care out of the water. The same writer — probably also 
the author of the article referred to as liaviug appeared in “ Doughty’s Cabinet ” — 
furnished Mr. Audubon with a full account of the habits of this species, as observed 
by him in winter, in the waters of the Chesapeake. He states that in its migrations 
southward it collects in flocks of twenty or thirty, and moves only when the wind 
is not opposed to the direction of its flight. It mounts high in the air, forms an 
elongated wedge, and utters loud screams as it departs, these cries being occasionally 
repeated as the bird moves on its way. When flying, the wings seem almost without 
movement, and their sweep is very unlike the semicircular movements of Geese. Dr. 
Sharpless estimates that this bird travels at the rate of at least a hundred miles an 
hour when at a high elevation and with a moderate wind in its favor. Its flight is 
estimated to be twice as rapid as that of the Wild Goose. 
In travelling from its summer abode to its winter residence, this bird keeps far 
inland, mounted above the highest peaks of the Alleghany, and rarely follows the 
watercourses. It usually arrives at its regular feeding-grounds at night, and signal- 
izes its coming by loud and vociferous screaming, with which the shores ring for 
