M U T E SWAN.
CYGNUS OLOR.
Tlloroil this species does not give utterance to loud cries like the Whooper, the name of Mute Swan appears
scarcely applicalde ; let any one go alloat in a hoat and drive before thcni the male and female with their
hrooil, and they will learn whether the old birds cannot express their bad temper and indignation for the
intruders by making a considerable noise. In Yarrell it is staled that " Swans were first brought into
England from Cyprus by liichnrd I., who began his reigo In 1189; and they are particularly mentioned in
a JIS. of the time of Edward I. (1272)." As this species has never been known (o breed in a wild state
in this country, it is probable that all our residents arc the slock from the imported birds ; possibly,
however, as these Swans rear their young in Denmark and the south of Sweden, a straggler may occasionally
visit our shores, as great numbers of pcrfect-wiogrd birds are shot on the large pieces of water in several of
the southern and eastern counties in severe weather.
As this species finds a place in every work on British birds I have examined, it is inserted in ' Rough
Notes;' at different times I shot many full-winged birds that bad never bceu pinioned or marked, which
may have cither escaped from some preserved water, owing to neglect, or made their way across the North Sea
to our shores. Those I secured as specimens were a remarkably large and line pair, that had spent their
lives in peace and quietness, the sole occupants for many years of Sumerlon Broad, ami were not known
to have reared any young within the memory of those who gave me the information concerning them.
They were shot on the 9tli of November, 1S7I—the male weighing 32 lbs.* and the female la lbs., and both
exhibiting most beautiful plumage. Among swanherds and those who arc supposed to be learned in the
management of this species the male is called a " Cob," the female a " Pen," and the young arc generally
known in all parts of the country as "Cygnets." I do not undertake to give all the changes through
which this species passes during its course towards maturity; hut I am of opinion that they take longer than
the end of the second year, which is the time allotted to them in Yarrell, to reach the perfect adult dress and
the full development of the colouring and protuberances on the beak. In the fourth ediLiou of the lastineutioncd
work we arc told, "The black tubercle at the base of the beak is called the berry, and a Swan
witliuut any mark on the beak is said to be clear billed."
The following extracts from my notes refer to Swans procured on the Norfolk Bruads as well as to
observations made in that part of the country concerning the behaviour of the unruly natives of the
district;—
"November 29th, 1872. The keeper of Ilickling who had charge of the Swans on the Broad and all
the adjoining pieces of water had during the autumn pul olF the marking aud pinioning of the Cygnets
till they were strong enough to get on wing, and he was unable to capture them and perforin the operation.
The consequence was that the lawless gunners of the neighbourhood had gradually killed them down, till