248 Mr. C. A. Wright's Third Appendix to a 



obtained in Europe. As is well known, the bird is a very great 

 wanderer, an example having even been captured near Sydney, 

 in New South Wales, according to Mr. Gould (Handb. B. Austral, 

 ii. p. 242). 



267. Cygnus olor. (Mute Swan.) 



On the morning of the 23rd of December, 1865, after several 

 days of boisterous weather, word was brought to me that a flock 

 of large birds had settled in Sliema Creek. One report made 

 them out to be Geese, another Pelicans. They turned out to 

 be Swans, a most unusual apparition in these islands. There 

 could be no doubt of this. A glance at them as they floated 

 majestically on the water, displaying their gracefully arched 

 necks and pure white bodies in the gleaming sunshine, told at 

 once that they belonged to this noble genus of birds. But what 

 was the species ? Were they Whoopers ? Or were they the 

 species or variety named after our countryman, dear old Bewick ? 

 Or were they Mute Swans? — the so-called "Polish Swan" 

 {Cygnus immutahilis) is, I believe, no longer considered to be a 

 good species. My curiosity was not then destined to be satis- 

 fied. Alarmed by the approach of a fishing-boat, they spread 

 their broad white wings, and, slowly but steadily work- 

 ing up to windward, were soon out of sight. Disheartened at 

 my lack of success, I returned home, scarcely expecting to 

 meet with them again, although several persons informed me 

 that they had been seen about the creek for two days. 



In the afternoon, it being a Saturday, there were the usual 

 amusements going on at Fort Manoel island — amilitaryband play- 

 ing, pigeon-match, croquet, cricket, and so forth. Of course there 

 were numerous carriages moving about, as well as equestrians and 

 pedestrians, who, in fine weather, are attracted to this spot to 

 witness the sports. Shouldering my gun I also took a stroll 



but Mr. A. G. More at once, and immediatel}' afterwards Mr. J. IT, 

 Gurney (p. 3388), suggested that it was a Bartram's Sandpiper, as fur- 

 ther investigation (p. 4254) proved it to be. Prof. Schlegel (Mus. P. B. 

 Scolopaces, p. 79) enumerates among the specimens preserved at Leyden 

 two : — " Male et femelle, etiquettes par feu Temminck comme ayant dte 

 tues en Europe." It does not appear that any have since been recorded 

 in this quarter of the globe.— Ed.] 



