432 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
in order to hit it at all, the hunter must take sight at a point several feet in advance 
of the bill. Hearne thinks that its speed, when flying before the wind in a brisk 
gale, cannot be less than a hundred miles an hour. When moving against or across 
the wind, however, it makes slow progress, and is more easily shot. 
Captain Blakiston mentions procuring a specimen at Fort Carlton, on the Sas- 
katchewan, on the 30th of March. It was the first of the spring migration ; it was 
a male bird, and weighed twenty -three pounds. Mr. Bernard Boss found this species 
common on the Mackenzie Iliver, and Mr. B. Browne includes it in his list of the 
birds of Vancouver Island. 
The Journal of Major Long’s Expedition to the Bocky Mountains refers to 
Swans, which were probably this species, seen passing northward as early as the 22d 
of February. This bird is among the first of the migratory ones to reach Hudson’s 
Bay, where it appears in flocks of from twenty to a hundred. It is strictly monoga- 
mous, and breeds in the islands and in low grounds among the reeds and sedges, 
making its nest of leaves and dry grasses. It lays from five to seven eggs of a dirty- 
white color. The young are hatched in July, and in August the moulting season 
commences, when, for a while this Swan is unable to fly. It begins to move south- 
ward about the 1st of September, resorting to the lakes and rivers about the 60th 
parallel, where it remains until October. Its manner of migration is said to be almost 
identical with that of the americanus, the birds collecting in flocks of considerable 
size, and, availing themselves of favorable winds, when they mount high in the air, 
forming an elongated wedge, and departing with loud sonorous screams. They reach 
their places of winter resort late in October or early in November, and their arrival 
is marked by the same outbursts which attend the coming of the smaller species, 
under similar circumstances. 
Although not able to fly when moulting, this bird cannot be readily taken in that 
condition, as its large feet, powerful leg, and vigorous wings enable it to run on the 
surface of the water faster than an Indian can paddle his canoe ; and to capture it by 
hand is rendered almost impossible, by the circumstance that resort is had to diving 
and other skilful manoeuvres to facilitate escape. 
A nest of this species was found by Mr. W. C. Bice at Oakland Valley, la., in 
the spring of 1871, and the Cygnets taken from it. Three of these were successfully 
raised, and were purchased for the Mount Auburn Cemetery, where they were received 
in December. They bore their transportation, in a week of unparalleled severity for 
the season, without injury, and were remarkably docile and tame. In the summer 
months when at large they would leave their pond and seek the companionship of 
their keeper, whose occupation as painter occasionally required his presence on the 
grounds near their place of abode. If permitted they would spend the day in his 
company rather than remain in their pond. They were perfectly and completely 
domesticated, and showed no fear of any person, feeding from the hands of any 
stranger. This Swan has also been domesticated in the cemetery in Cincinnati, a 
pair of the progeny having been sent to the London Zoological Gardens, and another 
to Mount Auburn. 
Mr. Audubon states that these Swans appear on the lower waters of the Ohio about 
the end of October, in the larger ponds and lakes at no great distance from the river, 
preferring such as are closely surrounded by dense and tall cane-brakes. There they 
remain until the water is frozen, when they move southward. During mild winters 
a few remain in these ponds until March. Mr. Audubon traced the winter migrations 
of this species as far south as Texas, where at times it is quite abundant. He met 
with a pair there that had been taken alive in the winter of 1836, and had been 
