THE PELICAN AND THE WILD SWAN. 
411 
The White is the largest of all water-fo-wls, about six feet in length. 
They are common in the South of Europe, particularly on the 
Danube, and also throughout Judea, Egypt, &c., &c. They fre- 
quent alike the sea-shore and rivers. These birds were fonnerly 
common on the Hudson and the inland lakes of our own State, 
and it is quite probable they have been seen in these very waters 
of ours ; but they have now entirely disappeared. They are rare 
everywhere in the Union, except in Louisiana and Missouri. Tliey 
are partial to the eddies about waterfalls. It is said that they 
live to a great age. They are capable of carrying twelve quarts 
of water in their pouch ! The Brown Pelican is still an occasional 
visitor on the sea-shore of Long Island ; farther south, it is very 
common. It is a smaller bird than the White, measuring fom- feet 
in length. 
Wild Swans are still found in the secluded northern lakes of 
this State, where they remain the whole year round. Large 
flocks, however, come from still farther north, and winter in the 
Chesapeake. They have a whistle, which distinguishes them from 
the mute species, which is much the most graceful. The Ice- 
landers are very partial to the whistle of the wild swan, perhaps 
because they associate it with the spring ; and Mr. Nuttall sup- 
poses that it was this note of theirs which led to the classic fancy 
of the song of the dying Swan. These birds are widely spread 
over Europe and America, though our own variety differs slightly 
from that of the Old World. 
The Eider-Duck is another celebrated fowl with which we have 
a passing acquaintance in this State. In very severe winters, a 
few find their way from the northward, as far as the coast of 
Long Island. They breed from Maine, north. They are hand- 
