Swan Research Articles

A New Material for Paper

THE grass known as Canada Rice (Zizania aquatica, Lin., Hydropyrum esculenium, Link) is well known to American botanists as a cereal. Linnreus names it, as long ago as 1750, in his “Philosophia Botanica,” under the class of Cerealia; it is mentioned under that name by Lindley in his “Vegetable Kingdom;” and in the “Treasury of Botany” it is stated that “the large seeds yield a considerable amount of food to the wandering tribes of Indians, and feed immense flocks of wild swans and other aquatic birds. It grows well in Britain when it is once established, but it is liable to die away if not cared for.” It is asserted, indeed, that many of the wandering tribes of native Indians depend on the harvest of Zizania, known by them as “Tuscarora,” as their principal source of food during the winter; and that so palatable is the grain that people who, at the period when it is ripe, make their way into the region where it grows, never fail to bring home a sackful as a present to their friends.

On Cygnus Passmori, a supposed new American Swan.

On Cygnus Passmori, a supposed new American Swan.

Games of Swans, etc., what?

Games of Swans, etc., what?

Male and female swans

Male and female swans

Singing of swans

Singing of swans

Singing of swans

Singing of swans

Swearing by swans

Swearing by swans

I. Description of the Organ of Voice in a new Species of Wild Swan (Cygnus Buccinator, Kichardson).

I. Description of the Organ of Voice in a new Species of Wild Swan (Cygnus Buccinator, Kichardson).

XXIII. On a new Species of Wild Swan, taken in England, and hitherto confounded with the Hooper.

XXIII. On a new Species of Wild Swan, taken in England, and hitherto confounded with the Hooper.