quitted the neighbourhood altogether. In January 1864, and again in the winter of 1869-70, several were shot
in this county; but for the last twenty years at least there has been no such season for Whoopers as that of 1870t1,
when the hard weather of that memorable winter commenced with a heavy fall of snow on the 20th of December,
increasing day by day until it was over a foot deep on the level. The frost was so intense that the thermometer,
even by day, registered only a few degrees above zero; and this lasted with but little abatement up to the 12th or
13th of January. A rapid thaw on the 14th cleared the ground of most of the first fall of snow; and, though
frosts continued at night, the weather moderated considerably up to the 28th, when the snow again fell heavily,
and the broads and smaller streams were thickly ice-bound up to the first week in February. My first notice of
Wild Swans in that season was an intimation from Mr. Anthony Hammond, that in the last week of December he
had seen a ‘herd’ of forty passing along the coast at Horsey, near Yarmouth'; and during the first week in
January a flock of twenty-six were observed on one occasion feeding close in shore off Holme Point, near
Hunstanton; and another lot of seven frequented the entrance to Heacham creek. On the 12th several appeared
off the Sherringham beach, passing along the coast; and on the same day, far inland, a considerable number were
both heard and seen passing over the town of Wymondham. As to the numbers actually procured in Norfolk
during February and the preceding month I have no means of judging accurately, since by far the larger portion
were sent up to London for sale, only some half-dozen appearing at intervals in the Norwich Market. Mr. J. H.
Gurney, jun., was informed by a dealer in Leadenhall Market that he had received as many as a hundred Whoopers
during the frost, chiefly from King’s Lynn; and one poulterer at Lynn stated he had had thirty.
“ As a rule, however, these Wild Swans by no means confine themselves to the sea-coast, or even to the broads
and streams in close vicinity, but, following the winding course of our rivers, are almost sure to make their
appearance, during a prolonged frost, in certain favourite localities, even though far inland. Some forty years ago, as
the late Mr. Howlett, of Bowthorpe, informed me, that portion of the Yare which lies between Cringleford and
Colney was so much frequented by Wild Swans in hard winters as to be locally termed the ‘ Swan River,’ and he
once counted sixteen; but though in those days the adjoining marshes were more frequently flooded, and thus
afforded the most tempting feeding-grounds, yet to this day, the low meadows about Earlham, Bowthorpe, and
Colney, on the above river, and Costessey on the Wensum, all within three or four miles of Norwich, are a constant
resort of the Whooper. In the winter of 1870-71, a flock of seven took up their quarters in that particular part
of the Yare; and though constantly disturbed, and two of their number shot, the survivors were remarked from
time to time, at different points of the stream, up to the end of February. A remarkably fine Whooper in the
Norwich Museum, which was killed at Bowthorpe in February 1830, and is said to have weighed twenty-six
pounds, also measured four inches and a half along the ridge of the upper mandible, but had no black at the base.
“ The distribution of colour on the bill in this species forms the most marked external distinction between it and
the Mute or Tame Swan (Cygnus olor)—in the former the base of the bill being yellow and the extremity black,
in the latter the base black and the extremity flesh-coloured or reddish orange, according to age. The internal
differences exhibited by the Whooper in the convolutions of the trachea are also very marked, as shown by Yarrell
in his anatomical illustrations; but that these had not escaped the. observation of Sir Thomas Browne is shown by
his remark (when writing of the ‘ Elks ’ or Wild Swans) that in them, ‘ and not in common swans, is remarkable
that strange recurvation of the wind-pipe through the sternum ; and the same is also noticeable in the Crane.’
The rufous tinge on the head and cheeks, in the Wild Swan as in our semidomesticated species, is noticeable
more or less in most specimens; and in a very fine bird, in the possession of Mr. F. Frere, of Yarmouth, shot
on Breydon in February 1866, this ferruginous or orange-red upon the tips of the feathers extends likewise to
the neck, and is more vivid than in any example I have seen.”
“ The siren song o f the Swan,” says Swainson, “ before its death, which has been the theme o f so much
beautiful poerty, is now well known to be fabulous; for the voice is only remarkable for its harshness.
Mr. Selby observes that it consists o f two notes, and has not unaptly been compared to the discordant union
of the modulation o f the Cuckoo with the scream of the Gull, or the sound of the clarionet in the hands
o f a beginner. Some, however, still assert that, when on the wing in large flocks or resting on the
water, their united cries, becoming softened by distance, are not unpleasant to the ear. ‘ This,’ remarks
Mr. Selby, ‘ I can readily believe; for under such circumstances I have ever found that the incongruous
mixture of sound from Gulls, Guillemots, and other tribes o f sea-fowl (when collected about the breeding-
places), mixed with the whistling o f the breeze and the murmurs o f the intervening water, reaches the
ear not very dissimilar to that o f a band of martial music.’
The Wild Swan evinces as great an aptitude for domestication as the tame species. When caught
alive it soon becomes very tame; and when provided with a spacious piece o f water, naturally furnished
with its proper food, it will thrive equally well. It feeds upon the roots, stems, and leaves o f aquatic plants,
for procuring which its long neck, as in other birds o f its own family, is absolutely necessary. When
swimming, it carries its neck much more upright than does the common Swan, with little o f that graceful
arch for which the latter is distinguished. It walks also heavily and awkwardly, with the head lowered and
the neck reclining over the back,!’,.v ;
The Wild Swan and its young undergo the same changes as the tame Swan; the structure o f the nest,
its situation, and the number and colour of the eggs are also similar.
The principal figure in the Plate is about half the natural size.