8o ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



the only one of its species in that place. They were 

 always to be seen together, the partridge keeping with 

 the pony where he grazed, and when he rested from 

 grazing sitting contentedly at his feet. No doubt this 

 companionship made their lonely lives less irksome. 



Another even stranger case must be told in conclusion 

 — the sad case of a lonely swan in search of a friend, 

 and as it is a story of the "incredible" sort I am glad 

 I have permission to give the names of the persons who 

 witnessed the affair. The place is Little Chelmsford 

 Hall, near Chelmsford, and the witnesses are Lady 

 Pennefather and her friend Miss Guinness, who resides 

 with her. Near the house there is an artificial lake of 

 considerable length, fed by a stream which flows into 

 the grounds on one side and out at the other. Lake 

 and stream are stocked with trout. A pair of swans 

 are kept on the lake and three or four years ago they 

 reared a single young one, which after some months 

 when it was fully grown they began to persecute. The 

 young swan however could not endure to be alone, and 

 although driven furiously off to a distance a hundred 

 times a day he would still return. Eventually he was 

 punished so mercilessly that he gave it up and went 

 right away to the further end of the lake and made 

 that part his home. About this time Miss Guinness 

 started making a series of water-colour sketches at that 

 end of the lake, and her presence was a happiness to 

 the swan. Invariably on her appearance he would start 

 swimming rapidly towards her, then leaving the water 

 he would follow her about until she sat down to do a 



