2i6 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



ten Bewicks, three whoopers, and five mutes. One year 

 he killed six Bewicks at one "shoot" of the mighty swivel, 

 but could only carry five home, leaving the sixth on the 

 ice until the next day. 



When flighting over inland waters, these birds rarely form 

 the V figure — that is reserved for long journeys across the 

 seas. And you shall always know the flight of a wild 

 swan, for his wings do not creak. The tame swan that flies 

 betrays his presence even on the darkest winter night by his 

 creaking wings — no matter how accomplished an aeronaut. 



From afar in the winter evenings you may hear them 

 approaching, calling to each other like a flock of tame 

 geese, and did they but keep silence, they might pass 

 the lurking gunner on their arrival from the cold North. 

 But when they stay about the Broad district in hard 

 weather, they fly low, just above the reeds, at the flight- 

 ing hour — often singly, and often in little bunches — 

 seeking for pastures new ; for they love a grass marsh, 

 eating the succulent crops as eagerly as tame geese. But 

 on the approach of spring, never a whooper, never a Bewick 

 is to be seen. They return to their homes, to tell of the 

 desolate lands and inhospitable inhabitants, who receive 

 them day by day with burning tongues of flame and deadly 

 rains of lead, and only the " collector " is happy. 



Strange white birds, that grace our rivers and lakes — 

 now sailing like full-rigged ships over the smooth face of 

 the waters — now asleep in the bright moonlit misty night, 

 with heads lying on wing ; at another season sitting closely 

 upon some rushy islet like marble statues in the wilderness 

 of reed and water, or again penned up in a frigid lake in the 

 crystal ice. Embodiment of graceful motion, lover of cooling 

 waters, farewell ! And mayest thou " evolve " that dying 

 song — often sung about, never sung — thou lovely flunkey 

 — for thy presence is thy be all and end all — thou peacock 

 of the waters. 



