Sale of the Woods 248. mpson Yellowstone June 14, 1932 and is one of the most beautiful secluded lakes we've seen in the park. Barrows Goldeneye, Mallards, and an unidentified shore bird were on the lake. The goldeneyes did a great deal of fighting & dipping. Just as we were ready to leave 2 swans slowed down and settled on the lake. One muffled call was uttered just before they alighted. They immediately separated and fed at opposite sides of one end of the lake, 10:05 A.M. John about half an hour, they drifted together. The male began bowing repeatedly, a courtship gesture we supposed. This lasted about 2 minutes. He then swam to the female, and they mated. This was done as follows. The male was on the female's back; she momentarily sank, came up; the male spread its wings, then both heads stretched forward and upward as far as they could reach; both pairs of wings spread simultaneously, and while they were both in this position, both swans called simultaneously 3 or 4 times. Then the male released & slipped into the water. It appeared as though the male grasped the feathers of the