List of Birds observed in Malta and Guzo. 249 



that way. What was my surprise to see, notwithstanding all 

 the noise and bustle around them, my friends the Swans of the 

 morning quietly floating in the middle of the Quarantine 

 Creek (which is scarcely two hundred and fifty yards wide), and 

 seemingly as much at home and unconcerned as any tame 

 Swans could be on the waters of the Serpentine. Much too far 

 to expect any execution from an ordinary gun, my only hope 

 was of their approaching near enough to give me the chance of 

 a fair shot. There they were, ten of them, precisely the same 

 number as had appeared in the morning. They kept pretty 

 close together, but occasionally separated a little, gliding noise- 

 lessly on the calm blue water of the creek, and presenting a 

 magnificent picture. Their great size was rendered more con- 

 spicuous from the contrast afforded by the proximity of some 

 Crested and Eared Grebes [Podiceps cristatus and P. nigricoUis) , 

 which looked mere specks by their side. Several essays, with 

 a regulation Enfield rifle, were made by some persons present, 

 but unsuccessfully. They did not exhibit the least alarm, pro- 

 bably mistaking the splash of the bullets (as a friend of mine 

 once actually did) for leaping fish. Once or twice they came 

 nearer the shore, but they took no notice of a green cartridge 

 and several charges of swan-shot which I fired at them. At 

 length, without ostensible cause, they suddenly rose, and I per- 

 ceived that they were making straight for the spot where I lay, 

 partially concealed by a heap of stones. My gun was now 

 loaded with No. 5 and No. 9. Aiming under the wing of one 

 of the centre birds, and letting fly the large shot when they 

 were about thirty yards distant, I made sure of bringing him 

 down ; but such was not the case. The small shot, which I fired 

 immediately afterwards, however, did the work, and down came 

 splashing into the water one of these splendid creatures, hit 

 in the wing. The flock consisted mostly of old birds; but 

 the one I shot was a bird of the year, wanting the shining 

 white plumage of adult age, the upper surface, as well as the 

 neck and head, being ashy grey mixed with brown. It ap- 

 peared to possess the black lore that distinguishes the Mute 

 Swan [Ctjgnus olor) from the two other European species, in 

 which this part is yellow at all ages ; but of this 1 could not be 



