WHOOPER.
furl her observations, we turned homeward* down the glen. Before quitting the water-ride the birds oomraenoed
to ihow signs of reatleeaneai, and rising on wing made off towards another small loch, from whioh, however,
they shortly returned, flying low in the face of the wind. On making inquiries I learned that the Swans
deserted the loch this year at a much earlier date than usual; a severe frost having set in, it is probable that the
surface would have been frozen over to such an extent as to interfere with their supply of food.
Though numberless chances of obtaining shots at these birds were lost through endeavours to gtiu au
insight into their general habits and manner of feeding, I am able to add little or nothing to the knowledge
already possessed concerning the species. "Weeds dragged up from the bottom of freshwater lochs in the
north, or the larger broads and pooh in the south, appear to form a considerable portion of their diet; 1
also watched them on many occasions grazing on the grass-marshes and round the edges of the dykes in Hit
districts. In shallow bays and in the channels running between the sand-hanks olf those parts of the coast
where the shore is Hat and the tide ebbs to a considerable distance, I have repeatedly seen Swans apparently
employed searching for food, marine weeds and grasses or small llsh and ertislaeea being the only
nutritious substances procurable. Au old coast-gunner in the neighbourhood of Rye in Sussex assured
me that he discovered a quantity of shrimps and other small fishes in a bird killed in the harbour; I did
not, however, place much faith in the stories told by this character, many of his yarns concerning the birds
be had seen or shot approaching the marvellous.
The thick coating of bathers on the body of a Swan and the size and strength of the wing-bone
render these parts almost impenetrable to the charge from a 10- or a 12-bore shoulder-gun at the distance
of five and thirty or forty yards. By la-nring in mind, however, when a chance occurs, that the m-ck near
the back of the head is the most vital spot, successful shots may occasionally be raids at than distance.
The use of heavy singles, especially l-bores with excessively heavy charges, has lately been advocated by
certain writers on sporting subjects; my own experience, however, is decidedly agiinst these unwieldly
weapons, and the following extracts from my notes will show that even Swans may be brought to hag by
ordinary shoulder-guns. In the winters of IS.jS and 1S59 several of these birds were obtained in Pevensey
Marsh and a few near Rye and Winehelsea; the whole, with but two exceptions, were killed with a 10-bore
muzzle-loader, no larger shot than No. a being used. On the 19th of December 1Sj8, while hidden behind a
pile "f old wreckage on the beach watching the endless swarms of fowl passing towards the west, a single
bird flying along the coast was dropped perfectly dead by a charge of No. II shot at the distance of about
thirty yards, the shot entering the upper part of the neck. On the following morning, while returning from
flight-shooting at one of the slades, a party of five old birds I had previously observed to fly in from
the Channel again came in view, now making their way out across the level towards the coast. Drawing
at once behind the shelter of Hie rough-hewn posts of an old marsh-gate, the approach of the Swans was
anxiously awaifed; though in the first instance holding a couchc that woidd have led them some distance
to the cost, they gradually edged round and passed within twenty yards of my place of concealment. The
leading bird, which happened to be the largest, doubled up at once on receiving the charge of the first barrel
( l i oz. No. 3) in the body below the- wing; the rest shearing off in confusion, the second was struck slightly
too far aft, and skimmed on out-pread pinions at least a couple of bandied yards before falling, when its
wings wen- flapped for some minutes. Though no examination was made, it is probable that this bird was
shot through the heart, its actions being almost precisely similar to those of one killed with a punt-gnu a feuwinters
book,
The distance that wildfowl will occasionally fly when fatally wounded is certainly astonishing ; my notes
for IbSl contain a reference to a bird that might reasonably have been expected to succumb at once to the
injuries inflicted. On the 32nd of Oeloher a pair of old Swans accompanied by three young settled on a marsh
adjoining one of the larger broads in the east of Norfolk j owing to a strong easterly gale it was no easy
WHOOPER. 3
matter to work the gunning-punt within range, flic birds baring pitched directly to windward and au approach
from any other quarter being impracticable. After watching the Party for a e mpl • o!' hours, during w hieh
they continued grazing on the marsh without shifting their quarters, I resolve.I, as the wind increased rafher
than diminished, to delay no longer in attempting to obtain a shot. To within the distance of about a couple
of hundred yards a dense bed of reeds afforded protection from the gusts sweeping across the open marsh
and intervening water ; on emerging from this shelter the swell rolled over the deck and the force of the
squalls rendered it almost impossible to make the slighfcsl headway. After a lull of a few minutes we
succeeded In Working np to within a little over a hundred yards; and three of the birds happening to draw
together, the heaviest cartridge that could be found in the pnnf-hox (1-lb. II) was fired *. More by luck
than skill, as the punt was rolling and pitching heavily, the aim proved true and the three birds were struck
flat down on the marsh ; a moment later, however, I hey recovered and, regaining their feet, Ihpped slowly off
to windward. On cluseh watching iheir manner of flight il was evident that Hie shot had fakeu effect on one
of the juveniles ; with extended wings it turned and dropped to leeward, and after skimming about a couple
of hundred yards rose a short distance in the air and fell headlong to the broad. Being forced to round a
poinl of land, several minutes elapsed before we reached the spot, when the bird was still beating the water with
its wings, its head being also raised and shaken; finally sinking beneath the surface as the punt drew Up
alongside. Having requested the taxidermist to whom the bird was sent fur preservation to make au
examination as to the cause of death, i was informed that three shots had passed through the heart.
A description of the colouring of the plumage of this juvenile is unnecessary, as the bird is figured
in the Plate. After death I remarked that the beautiful pearl-grey tints on I he feel Iters of the back and wings
changed considerably, turning in some parts into a dirty grey or slate. This trails!'u-ui u ion probably accounts
for the statement in one or two oruil hologieal works, viz. " the young are brown in (heir plumage for the
first year."
The wild and well-known call of the Wild Swan may be described as resembling the words " Whoop,
Whoop;" the note, however, varies considerably in tone and strength, though wind and weather may have
something to do with the sound. I never attempted to imitate tfieir call, but have repeatedly seen these birds
turn in answer to the shouls of the marslimeu in the eastern counties ; on one occasion half a dozen hovered
round and finally settled on the water within a hundred yards of the bank on which our boat was brought up.
Swans both by day and at night, when unsuspicious of danger, may be beard making a low chattering or grating
noise, which would scarcely be audible at the distance of above forty or fifty yards. This sound might possibly
be caused by the actions of the mandibles, though, to the best of my judgment, it appeared to resemble a low
call-note.