Where  Swan  have  been  feeding  for  any  length  of  time
great  holes  are  hollowed  in  the  bottom,  the  mud  or  sand
having  been  scooped  out  by  their  powerful  bills  and  feet


IV/IIS7XIXG  swan:  23

and  piled  up  on  the  side,  and  when  the  water  is
moderately  shallow,  I  have  known  a  sailboat  to  be
frequently  grounded  upon  the  lumps  thus  formed.
In  this  way  these  birds  do  great  damage  to  feed-
ing grounds,  and  destroy  very  much  more  edible  grass
than  they  consume.  For  this  reason  they  are  not
altogether  regarded  with  favor  by  sportsmen,  as  they
soon  render  useless  large  tracts  of  grass-covered  bottom
to  which  Ducks  and  Geese  would  resort  for  a  long  time,
but  which  they  are  forced  to  desert  on  account  of  the
wasteful  destruction  of  their  food  committed  by  the
Swan.  As  a  rule  this  species  pays  but  little  attention  to
decoys,  or  wooden  representatives  placed  among  a  num-
ber of  live  Geese  tied  out  for  the  same  purpose.  Most
of  the  birds  that  are  procured  are  shot  from  points  over
which  the  Swan  fly  as  they  pass  up  and  down  their  feed-
ing grounds;  or  are  killed  from  boats  sailed  down  upon
them  before  the  wind.  Swan  being  so  large  and  heavy
cannot  easily  take  wing,  but  are  obliged  to  force  them-
selves over  the  water,  and  against  the  wind,  by  rapid  and
powerful  beats  of  the  wings  and  feet,  until,  obtaining
the  requisite  momentum,  they  are  lifted  into  the  air.
