New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
nv CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS

r. from the south and from the Dlue pam iil''Seu
l ] lagoonS the giant white flock came beating on
~ wings that drove them through the heights OF AR
~ something like a mile and half minute Over the
rank bright mysterious SoltudeS ana gou-gietl lvch
# the Everglades the shining wedge OF their iSn cet
.he air unSwcrvnglV In the mighty. throDDng rhythm
81 that flight each vast white wing flashed nomcnuy
Ike snow against the intense blue struck by the level
ravs Of a sun not vet an hour above the horizon
In that high-vOyaging fight went inleen s""N'
hose huge white clarion voiced birds so naptly known
. ",ybiSfling swans They flew in strict array, with
,av four in the shorter limb of the wedge and eleven
~ the longer one: the wSeS and most dominant OF the
flock the undisputed leader, flying at the apex The
~~, far summons Of the Northern spring had come to
.,. .,55cnv in the blue and gold of the Florida Ia
..ons: and though he knew that spring was still deep
~,,cf i'm ice hoWed over by the savage Arctic winds,
-. + ~ fingered but a day two before following the
u For a dav or two the flock had been greatly eX
;..f swimming this way and that. preening their
. .t~s ncrvousv and making the yellow shores reccho
' .'ei~ harShlV sonorOuS cries. 1t not an easy
- ...~ % tear themselves away from those milk warm,
. .-, ,rccn-azure tides but at length. IN the cool
..... dawn flock Of wild geese had gone muSically
r.rtinc overhead. bound for Hudson Bay. ..,
7ri- .- --t the spur that he needing. AS II he
merely been waiting for these his forerunner~ lead
.... t. .,r.-g into the air with long trumpeing
.r r.-t mid ating Of wings The flock rose after
.i.. ,- -uuyv tcmpcStuOuS confusion OF wings and
-i.. With much Jealous wranging the wedge formed
,-f us II r~e pounding upward on a long slant TIL at
,~. having gained cloudy heght, II swept north"ard
.~ ttc trat. If the geese.
N.- t.r under five feet in length and with an enOr-
.. wing area these WhiStng swans were the state
. birds that the North American continent could
Y.. The WhtencS> of their plumage radlantly flaw
ve for spot of yellow each side OF the iace, was
,. i'm formal fashion by Jet black legs and bill Their
-,narched skulls betrayed high degree Of intelligence
and heir wild eyes held a sort OF alooi defiance,
Sucrling rapidly inland. if to avoid the Atlantic
Coast the swans swept toward the Mississippi dIcy.
Frl-n time to time. with tremendous SpashingS and
Noise as Of band Of horns and buglcS they would come
i1n from their heights rest and feed, seeking always
M their halt the lOnccSt Of lakes marShy pools Inc
ight Of their great frames and the fierce energy cX-
pended in the terrific speed of their flight forced them
20 feed well and often
From the altitude at which they Ourneyed the swans
-.okcI down on all other migrant hosts with the eX-
.er,ion perhaps Of the geese. who flew at about the
same level Above them IN the intense blue, they saw
,nlv maicstiCally wheeling eagle now and then or the
black no,i0ncSs wings Of a soaring vulture. or some
.ighhawking falcon waiting TO SwOop upon her prey
B,,. If none Of these had the swans any fear. The
harmless, black vulturc would not moleSt kitten. And
neither the eagle nor the swift gerfacOn or go>hawk,
-. Noothr-tv Of his race, would lightly risk buffet
-h.t might hurl him rccng to earth. he swans IN
I..l gave small thought to any possible enemies IN
.heir aerial path.
VET but for their confidence in their own power and
courage. even the giant white swans might have
ll ri-givngs as the goShawk came gliding. beautiful
AMI sinister FORM above the line of their flight FLYING
- the were at rate Of not much less than hundred
mile. IN hour the measured beat Of their wings was
visible manifestation Of splendid and adequate effort.
Br' the gOshawk swiftly OvertOO them, almost without
seeming 70 hasten the slow sweep of his long scythellke
.'riunS.