SWANS. 141 



BEWICK'S SWAN". Ci/g7ius lewichi, Yarrell. 



Yarrell, iv. p. 315; Dresser, vi. p. 441; Seehohm, iii. p. 484; 

 Ibis List, p. \2i; Cygnus minor, Harting, p. 59. 



Bewick's Swan, which is almost one-third smaller 

 than the Whooper, is a rare visitant. One was shot 

 on the Fleet Water, Febrnary 18, 1855; another at 

 Chickerel, February 20, 1871 ; and a third at Hen- 

 bury, Wimborne, in December 1879. 



MUTE SWAN. Ciignus olor, (Gmelin). 



Yarrell, iv. p. 324; Dresser, iv. p. 419; Seehohm, iii. p. 476; 

 Ibis List, p. 119; Cygnus niansuetus, Palteney's List, 

 p. 19. 



At the western extremity of the Fleet estuary, 

 opposite Abbotsbury, is the only Swannery in the 

 kingdom, belonging to the Earl of Ilchester. 



The Fleet is about nine miles long and from a 

 quarter to three-quarters of a mile broad, extending 

 from the sea at Portland Bridge to Abbotsbury. The 

 southern side is bounded by the Chesil Bank, called 

 in a grant to Sir John Strangways (12 Ch. I.) La 

 Breche, a natural aggregation of pebbles, mainly 

 flint, which touches the Isle of Portland at Chesil, 

 and terminates at Burton Bradstock, about three 

 miles west of Abbotsbury. Between these two points 

 the Bank is joined to the mainland, and is not inter- 

 vened by water, as is the case between Abbotsbury 

 and the Ferry Bridge. The northern side of the 

 estuary touches the parishes of Abbotsbury, Langton 



