By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 159 



where the two birds were killed. From inquiries I have since 

 made, I cannot learn that these birds were kept on any ornamental 

 water or lake in the neighbourhood : it may therefore be deduced 

 that they are bona fide specimens of the bird in its natural state." ^ 

 This bird has obtained the trivial name of " Cravat " Goose from 

 the conspicuous patch of white feathers, almost encircling the 

 black neck. 



" Hooper." [Cygnus miisicus.) More commonly known as the 

 Wild Swan, and is an annual visitor to our coasts in winter : indeed 

 I have seen nine brought in to the Lynn poulterers by a single 

 gunner in a morning, in severe weather. It is a bird of very 

 powerful flight, and its speed is said sometimes to exceed a hundred 

 miles in an hour : so no wonder it is wont to appear at times on 

 most of our larger inland lakes and rivers. The late Mr. George 

 Marsh reported that a dozen of them settled on the Draycot Pond 

 in 1838, which was one of the hardest winters within the memory 

 of living man. He also recorded that one was brought to Lord 

 Radnor at Salisbury, who offered a guinea if the man would get 

 him another : the worthy fowler soon returned with one of his 

 lordship's tame Swans, and received the guinea, and neither he 

 nor the noble Earl was aware of any difference between the two 

 birds. It derives the name of Hooper from its peculiar note, said 

 to resemble the repetition of the word " hoop." 



"Mute Swan." {Cygnus olor.) I am somewhat at a loss to 

 know why this species should be reckoned as a British bird, seeing 

 that it certainly cannot be called /era natures in these islands. 

 However as it is included in all the British lists, and as we have 

 our share of this handsome bird in all parts of the county, I of 

 course follow suit, and add it to my Wiltshire catalogue. Though 

 for the most part of gentle peaceful manners, it becomes very 

 pugnacious during the breeding season : and I well recollect when 

 a boy at Eton, while sculling in a light skiff near the rushy banks 

 of an eyot on the Thames, I unconsciously found myself in close 

 proximity to a Swan's nest, and the old bird came at me with such 

 furious aspect of beak and wings, that I made my escape as fast as 

 * Zoologist — Second Series, April, 1867, p. 709. 



