New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-04
CENTRAL PARK SWANS TAKE A SKATE.
SURPRISED AND NoNPLUssED BY ICE UNDER TIE
wATER--A FAMILY QUARREL.


The swans in Central Park were greatly ds-
turbed recently the sudden appearance of ce on the
lake. The coating OF the CLASSY surface OF their sporting
pond each year with ice seems TO them Ike an uncaeu
for intrusion and they manifest their dspeasurs at
by numerous loud and unmusca cries As cod snap
the southern part OF the lake freezes rsi ana
the ice gradually advances northward driving the am
phbious birds before it, until the whole lake is coated
with the exception OF the extreme north end where the
yelling up of humorous springs prevents the water from
freezing. The graceful Bird as II finds the Ice graduay
closing III II, gdes back ana forth with inaJesuc
motion. dashing with pentup wrath against the newly
formed ice, and ducng head under water with such
vehemence as TO make 1t fairly seeth and boil These
strange antics are occasionally varied by startled cry
and sudden rush for the shore that gives one the laea
that a hunter Is the track OF the bird.
When the ice began form for tho first time this
season the swans renewed their annual antics. In
days extended the ontre surface OF tho
lake and the birds deprived of their sporting
ground. This loss they seemel 70 take sadly 10 hear
and their only partly assaaged by nohhuer
ing in small muddy hole the north borders OF tue
lake. But what theI surprise on the fourth morn
ing find the lake, not they hal left 1t on the peVi
night sheet OF glistenng ice but an open pond
During The night tho lake flooded in order TO
wash away the sand and dust that had collected on the
ice and inches of water was on the surface OF
TIE ice No mad the family OF swans discovered
this state Of things than the whole tribe with simuta-
cry I'd for the water There was lOud SpSI
they all struck the water at once, ana the next
five helpless birds made the surrounding WOODS
rcecho with Not accustomed 10 hhuhg Ice
Tour inches from the waters SURFACE anu wv
able TO stand up walk they felt tho help-
lessness of their position The old mother swan
made first energetic effort 10 reach shore slappnS
the wafer with her wings and usng her feet as we'll che
managed advance about foot ana then she slipped
and fell against Der mate Both birds rolled over In the
water and joined in lively domestic quarrel: When
they had finally cOnented themselves in pecklng each
other they found they further than ever IRON
tho shore In the meantime tue younger ones OF IN"
family had edged shoTeward TO escape meeting the ny
ing wings their parents and with little difficulty tey
Topped upon dry land The two older ones finding mat
their quarrel had productive OF good results
efforts reach tho bank, but tach III an
opposite direction. By sort OF skating and siding mo-
ton they managed 10 do this after several peculiar
lutons and undiguied tnnbles The tive crasttlHen
birds then wudded the bank gave vigorous shake
or two to thely feathers looked the water in puzzled
manner much that they did not undcr'tanI
it, then. with their neckS stretched u thelf IiI
length marched by their small mud mole near
head Of the lake. They had had their FIRST nnd prop
ably their last skate fOr,ths seasOn