108 ANATID.E. 



persons who saAV tlicm with whom I had an opportunity of 

 conversing on the subject ; but their superior dimensions, the 

 whiteness of their plumage, their black feet, easily distin- 

 guished as they passed overhead, and their reiterated calls, 

 which first directed my attention to them, were so strikingly 

 characteristic, that skilful ornithologists could not be deceived 

 with regard to the genus to which they belonged. That these 

 birds were not Hoopers may be safely inferred from their 

 great inferiority in point of size." 



" I was informed, that when the wild swans were shot at, 

 near Middleton on the 10th of Decembei-, 1829, one of them 

 was so reluctant to abandon the bird which was wounded on 

 that occasion, that it continued to fly about the spot for 

 several hours after the rest of the flock had departed, and 

 that, during the whole of this period, its mournful cry was 

 heard almost incessantly. In consequence of the protracted 

 disturbance caused by the persevering efforts of Messrs. Bur- 

 ton"'s workmen to secure its unfortunate companion, it was at 

 last, however, compelled to withdraw, and was not seen again 

 till the 23rd of March, Avhen a swan, supposed to be the 

 same individual, made its appearance in the neighbourhood, 

 flew several times round the reservoir in lofty circles, and 

 ultimately descended to the wounded bird, with which, after 

 a cordial greeting, it immediately paired. The newly arrived 

 swan, which proved to be a male bird, soon became accustom- 

 ed to the presence of strangers ; and, when I saw it on the 

 4th of April, was even more familiar than its captive mate. 

 As these birds were strongly attached to each other, and 

 seemed to be perfectly reconciled to their situation, which, in 

 many respects was an exceedingly favourable one, there was 

 every reason to believe that a brood would be obtained from 

 them. This expectation, however, was not destined to be 

 realized. On the 13th of April, the male swan, alarmed by 

 some strange dogs which found their way to the reservoir. 



