England, where, from its great size and
peculiar markings, it is one of the most ornamental of water-fowls. It
is, moreover, a great tyrant, and will not permit other birds to
approach its haunt, but drives them off, striking them furiously with
its strong broad wings.

"Until a late period the swans of America were supposed to be all of one
kind. This is not the case. There are now known to be three distinct
species inhabiting the fur countries, and migrating annually to the
South. That which is best known is the `whistler,' or `hooper' (_Cygnus
Americanus_), because it is the species that abounds in the old States
upon the Atlantic, and was therefore more observed by naturalists. It
is believed to be identical with one of the European `singing' swans
(_Cygnus ferus_), but this is not certain; and for my part, I believe
they are different, as the eggs of the American swan are greenish, while
those of its European congener are brownish, with white blotches.

"The `hooper' is four and a half feet in length, though there are males
still larger, some of them measuring five feet. Its colour is white,
except upon the head and back part of the neck, where there is a coppery
tinge. The bill and feet are black. From the angle of the mouth to the
eye there is a small naked `cere,' of a bright yellow colour. These
swans, like others of the genus, do not care much for the salt water.
They are rarely seen upon the sea, except near its shores, where they
may find the aquatic plants upon which they feed. Nor do they go out
upon the large lakes. When found upon these, it is generally close in
to the land. This is accounted for by the fact that the swans do not
`dive' for their food, but stretch down for it with their long necks,
which Nature has peculiarly adapted to this very purpose. Their
favourite food consists of the roots of aquatic plants, which are often
farinaceous. As these grow best in the shallow small lakes and along
the margins of rivers, such places are the usual resort of the swans.
Although their diet is a vegetable one, it is not exclusively so, as
they will eat frogs, worms, and small fish. Unlike the ducks and geese,
they rarely feed upon land, but while floating upon the surface of the
water. They walk but awkwardly on land, and are at home only on water
or in the air. In the air they are quite at home, and fly so swiftly
that it is no easy matter to shoot them, especially when going before
the