persons who saw them with whom I had an opportunity of
conversing on the subject; blit their superior dimensions, thé
whiteness of their plumage, their black feet, easily distinguished
as they passed overhead, and their reiteratèd calls-,
which first directed my attention to them, -were' so strikingly
characteristic, that skilful ornithologists could not be deceived
•with regard to the genus to which ^they belonged. That these
birds were not Hoopers may be safely inferred from their
great inferiority in point of size.’*
“ I was informed, that when the wild swans were shot at,
near Middleton on the 10th of December, 18#9, one' of them
was so reluctant to abandon the. bird which. was wounded- Ü
that occasion, that it continued to fly about the spot for
several hours, after.the rest of the flock had departed, and
that, during thé whole of this period, its mournful cry'was
heard almost incessantly. In consequence of the protracted
disturbance caused by the persèverihg efforts of Messrs. Burton’s
workmen-to secure its unfortunate companion, it was jat
last, however, compelled to withdraw, and was* not séêfi^again
till the 23rd of March, when a swan, supposed be the
same individual, made, its appearance iii the neighböurhood,
flew several times round the reservoir in lofty circles, and
ultimately ^descended to the wounded bird, with which* after
a cordial greeting, it immediately paired. Thé .newly arrived
swan, which proved to bé a male bird, soon became accustomed
to the presence of strangers; and, when I saw it on the
4th of April, was even more familiar than its captive mate.
As these birds were strongly attached to each other, and
seemed to be perfectly reconciled to their situation, which, in
many respects was an exceedingly favourable one, there was
every: reason to believe that a brood would be obtained from
them. This expectation, however, was not -destined to be
realized. On the 18th of April, the male swan, alarmed by
some strange dogs which found their way to the reservoir,
took flight and did not return; and on the 5th of September,
in the same year, the female bird, whose injured wing had
recovered its, original vigour, quitted the scene of its misfortunes
and was seen no more.”
Specimens of Bewick*s Swan have been obtained in several
parts of Scotland -; and Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, has recorded
that this species is certainly more common in Ireland
than the Hooper. • Several strings of them, as they are there*
called from the form in which thjey fly, were seen in January
1886; single individuals were brought-to market occasionally^,
by which museums and collectors were supplied; and Mr.
Thompson particularly mentions that in February, 1880, a
flock containing seven of these Swans alighted in a* flooded
meadow near Belfast, when they were shot at, and two of
them so disabled by the one discharge, as to'- after some-
difficulty secured. They were bought by William Sinclaire,
Esq., and on their wounds being found so-trivial as merely
to incapacitate'them from flight, were placed in 'his aquatic
menagerie, where, in company with many other species of
wild-fowl, chiefly Anatida, they have ever- since-remained.*
Mr. Sinclaire also mentions, that every -spring and autumn
since he has ta d these Swans, they have regularly, about the
months of March and September, become very restless, and
for the period of at least, three weeks have Wandered from the
enclosure within which they are contented to . remain all the-
rest of the year. In disposition they are timid and extremely
gentle, and never attempts to molest any of the wild-fowl
Confined in the same pond with them, though all o f these are
their inferiors in strength and size. Their call, chiefly uttered
at the migratory periods; is a low deep-toned whistle, once
repeated. On the water, the carriage of the Cygnus Bewicku
is intermediate in its character between that of the Mute
Swan and common goose; but if these birds exhibit not the*
grace and majesty of the former on this element, they appear