78 ANATIDAG 
stringy. Many a fowler lets an opportunity pass of ‘bag- 
ging’ with one discharge from his heavy staunchion gun, 
half a dozen or more of these great birds: it is sentiment 
and perhaps superstition on the part of the gunner that 
often saves a Wild Swan’s life. In the West of ‘Treland this 
is particularly noticeable. The late Mr. Watters, in his 
charming little book on ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ gives the follow- 
ing romantic account: ‘‘ On the authority of Mr. R. Glennon, 
towards spring the small lakes in the county of Mayo are 
tenanted by flocks of these birds congregated there pre- 
paratory to their return te those regions of snow to which 
their plumage accords, and approximates so chastely in 
appearance. And, strange to say, although they occur in 
considerable numbers at that time, they are never interfered 
with or molested by the peasants of the neighbourhood, on 
account of a tradition that the souls of virgins (?) who, 
whilst living, had been remarkable for the purity of their 
lives, were after death enshrined in the form of these birds, 
as emblematic of their purity and beatitude ; for this reason 
they remain in safety, as it is also beleved that whoever 
would be so unlucky as to meddle with them would pay 
for his temerity by the forfeit of his life, ere the year had 
elapsed.” 
From remote ages the Swan has been loved and admired 
by mankind, as 1s well illustrated by the numerous poetical 
descriptions of its beautiful unsullied plumage, gentle form, 
and graceful flight :— 
‘*So the white swans from the firmament swoop, 
With their gong-throated queen—a beautiful troop— 
Wheeling eracetully earthward, and floating as though 
The young winds were wooing fain cloudlets of snow.’ 
Flight.—The flight of this great bird, when once fairly 
under way, is rapid and strong, but owing to its heavy 
weight, the Whooper rises in a rather clumsy manner. 
The flapping of the wings of a flock rising off the surface 
of the water, may be likened to the cracking of a whip 
rapidly repeated. The swishing sound of the wings can be 
heard after the birds have ascended to a _ considerable 
height. 
Voice.—This Swan derives its name from the sound of 
its voice, which, when heard at a distance, resembles a 
rather full-toned whistle. It is not a vibrating sound; it 
is a clear prolonged whoo-whoo, followed by a pause and 
