234 BIRDS. 



One of the largest swanneries, where the birds are regu- 

 larly farmed and plucked of their down, is not far from 

 Weymouth, and the birds there are a very beautiful sight. 

 Some ornithologists distinguish the so - called " Polish 

 swan," which seems to differ only in the whiteness of the 

 young or cygnet, which in the ordinary swan is grey. As, 

 however, Mr Saunders failed to find the alleged differences 

 (colour of legs, &c.) in the adult, it seems unnecessary to 

 manufacture even a race out of these abnormal youths and 

 maidens — there are so many races and forms and sub-species 

 as it is. Swans are said to be exceedingly long-lived. 



The Whooper, or "Whistling Swan," which nested in 

 the Orkneys at the end of last century, is now but a 

 winter visitor, staying on in secluded spots 

 until w^ell into the spring. In his 'Manual,' 

 Mr Saunders mentions Poole Harbour as one of its 

 favourite resorts ; but unfortunately Bournemouth has in- 

 creased during the eight years that have elapsed since the 

 publication of that unique work, and loafers, of which 

 there must always be a large number during the " slack " 

 months of a watering-j^lace, have not been idle, so that 

 the gunner would have to sjDend a good deal of time now- 

 adays in watching for a wild swan in Poole Harbour. In 

 this swan, nearly two -thirds of the bill is yellow, the 

 lowest third being black. The note of this species is but 

 indifferently described as "whistling," — a fresh proof of 

 the difficulty of adequately rendering the various notes 

 of wild birds, to which allusion has already been made. 

 It is more like a toy trumpet, — a vulgar comparison, I 

 fear, but at any rate as near the mark as the other. 



Bewick's Swan is a rarer visitor, though more common 



in Ireland. It is a much smaller bird than the last, and 



t Bewick's is further distinguished by the smaller patch 



Swan. of yellow (only one-third) on the bill. The 



note, equally indescribable, is softer. 



