228 
AMERICAN SWAN. 
neighbourhood by a constant clatter of consulting tongues, they depart for 
the north about daylight with a general feu-de-joie of unmusical screams. 
“ The Chesapeake Bay is a great resort for Swans during the winter, and 
whilst there they form collections of from one to five hundred on the flats, 
near the western shores, and extend from the outlet of the Susquehanna 
river almost to the Rip Raps. The connecting streams also present fine 
feeding grounds. They always select places where they can reach their food 
by the length of their necks, as they have never, so far as I can learn, been 
seen in this part of the world to dive under the water, either for food 
or safety. Hearne says, that at Hudson’s Bay, ‘ by diving and other 
manoeuvres, it is impossible to take them by the hand while moulting.’ I 
have often seated myself for hours, within a short distance of several hundred 
Swans, to watch their habits and manners, and never saw one pass entirely 
under the water, though they will keep the head beneath the surface for five 
minutes at a time. 
“ The food they are most partial to is the canvass-back grass ( Valisneria 
Americana), worms, insects, and shell-fish ; never, I believe, touching fish, 
however hardly pressed for support. The Geese and Swans frequently feed, 
but never fly, together. 
“ These birds are so exceedingly watchful, that if there are but three of 
them feeding together, one will generally be on guard, and when danger 
approaches there is some mute sign of alarm, for I have never heard a sound 
at such times. 
“ However much noise has been made before, the instant an alarm occurs, 
there is perfect silence, their heads are erected, a moment’s examination 
determines the course, when if the case be not too urgent, they depend on 
swimming, if escape be necessary. They rarely fly even from the pursuit of 
a boat, unless very closely followed, and when they do arise from the water, 
either for escape or from choice, it is generally with a scream, and when 
alighting, particularly if among others, there is usually a ‘ how d’ye do ’ sort 
of expression on all sides. Even when wing-broken, these birds can swim 
with great rapidity, and if not otherwise hurt, a single oarsman in the best 
constructed boat can rarely overtake them. A gentleman who resides on 
the Chesapeake near Brush river, informed me, that a few years since, he 
had wounded a Swan, and afterwards cured and tamed it. To prevent it 
from flying away, he clipped its wing, but it occasionally escaped to the 
water, where he had often followed it for several miles, with two rowers, 
before he could catch it. The un wounded birds have frequently been seen 
to collect around a crippled companion, and urge it to escape, pushing it 
forward ; and I have been informed by good authorities, that they have been 
observed to place themselves on each side of a disabled Swan, supporting a 
