. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . flight is exceedingly swift, heing estimated liy competent observers at onehundred miles per hour—probably twice that of the For all they arc soIKnvcrful on the wing, lliey rise from the water rather reluctantly, and prefer. THE WHISTLING SWAN. 839 if there is room enougli, to distance pursuit by swimming. Because theneck of tlie Swan is so long and lumg at tlie water-line, the bird can explorethe bottom freely in shallow waters in its search for roots and molluscs,wit
. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . flight is exceedingly swift, heing estimated liy competent observers at onehundred miles per hour—probably twice that of the For all they arc soIKnvcrful on the wing, lliey rise from the water rather reluctantly, and prefer. THE WHISTLING SWAN. 839 if there is room enougli, to distance pursuit by swimming. Because theneck of tlie Swan is so long and lumg at tlie water-line, the bird can explorethe bottom freely in shallow waters in its search for roots and molluscs,without making any ungainly motions with the body. Indeed, there is apeculiar disconnectedness between the operations of the Swan proper andits far-reaching head,—as tho here were a white boat serenely floating atanchor, from the bow of which now and then a diver is sent down to grapplefor hidden treasure. All the Ijirds motions above water are graceful enough,except in case nf anxious inquiry, when the neck is stretched to its utmost,per]5endicularl\-, as it pauses in dread expectancy, and the bird looks like a. Plioto by tlic Author LAKE CHELAX. AN ANCIENT HAUNT OF THE WILD SWAN. white eighth-note of the musical scale, set upon a staff of widening , its gait is a rather ungainly waddle, the foot being folded and liftedunco high at every step. The Whistling Swan is a noisy bird at best. A flock of them exhibitgreat indix^idual \ariations of notes, and they can create a chorus which ismildly worse than that of a pulitical jollification meeting. The bass horns,of tin rather than brass, are Ijlown by the old fellows, while the varied noteswhich seem to come from clarionets, are really due to cygnets. The birds setup a great outcry when they have done anything, or are about to do anything,important, as when ])reparing for the flight northward, or when welcominga company of their fellows to the feeding grounds. The \\histlino- Swan has undoubtediv nested in Washingto
Size: 2307px × 1083px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordaws, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds
