BIRDS OF ICELAND 49 



this bird, which is just hinted at by Baring Gould 

 (p. 155). In lower Vatnsdalur, in Hunavatns Sysla, 

 is a wide shallow lake, through which the river 

 runs. On this, early every spring, an immense flock of 

 Whooper Swans assembles on their return inland from 

 the sea-coasts. Some, no doubt, pair and go off to the 

 fells, but a great number pass the whole summer 

 on this lake, forming a picturesque addition to the 

 already picturesque neighbourhood. The neighbouring 

 farmers, however, on whose land they graze, do not 

 altogether approve of them. We estimated their 

 numbers at near one hundred. 



In the Field of November 2, 1895, appeared a most 

 singular statement professing to describe the capture 

 of wild swans in north-east Iceland, which I feel com- 

 pelled to regard as a 'later Saga.' The writer, who 

 signs himself 'Jon Stephanoson, Ph.D.,' tells us that 

 the farmers of a certain neighbourhood lie in wait on 

 pony-back for the swans on their line of flight to 

 the sea after moulting-time is over, having previously 

 provided themselves with 'dogs, rattles, and various 

 instruments of noise.' On the appearance of the 

 swans, the farmers raise such a pandemonium of sound 

 that the young swans in the flock ' descend helpless 

 like falling stones.' They drop 'to earth as if they 

 were shot,' the old ones taking no notice ; this plan 

 is ' used successfully every year,' while ' those who use 

 it prefer it to shooting.' Moreover, it 'for centuries 

 has been in use in the north-east of Iceland.' 



The editor pertinently remarks that no writer on 



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