banks
of the river were marshy, with here and there small lakes of stagnant
water. In these a large number of swans, with wild geese and other
aquatic birds, were swimming and feeding.

Of course our guns were put in requisition, and we succeeded in killing
a brace of swans, with a grey goose (Anser _Canadensis_), and a pair of
ducks. The swans were very large ones--of the Trumpeter species--and
one of them was cooked for supper. It was in excellent condition, and
furnished a meal for the whole of our party! The other swan, with the
goose and ducks, were stowed away for another occasion.

While "discussing" the flesh of this great and noble bird, we also
discussed many of the points in its natural history.

"White as a swan" is a simile old as language itself. It would, no
doubt, puzzle an Australian, used to look upon those beautiful and
stately birds as being of a very different complexion. The simile holds
good, however, with the North-American species, all three of which--for
there are three of them--are almost snow-white.

We need not describe the form or general appearance of the swan. These
are familiar to every one. The long, upright, and gracefully-curving
neck; the finely-moulded breast, the upward-tending tail-tip, the light
"dip," and easy progression through the water, are points that everybody
has observed, admired, and remembered. These are common to all birds of
the genus _Cygnus_, and are therefore not peculiar to the swans of
America.

Many people fancy there are but two kinds of swans--the white and black.
It is not long since the black ones have been introduced to general
notoriety, as well as to general admiration. But there are many
distinct species besides--species differing from each other in size,
voice, and other peculiarities. In Europe alone, there are four native
swans, specifically distinct.

It was long believed that the common American swan (_Cygnus Americanus_)
was identical with the common European species, so well-known in
England. It is now ascertained, however, not only that these two are
specifically distinct, but that in North America there exist two other
species, differing from the _Cygnus Americanus_, and from each other.
These are the Trumpeter (_Cygnus buccinnator_) and the small swan of
Bewick (_Cygnus Bewickii_), also an inhabitant of European countries.

The common American species is of a pure white, with black hill, logs,
and feet. A slight tinge of b