BE^yICK's SWAN. 109 



took flight and did not return ; and on the 5th of September, 

 in the same year, the female bird, whose injured Aving had 

 recovered its original vigour, quitted the scene of its mis- 

 fortunes and was seen no more." 



Specimens of Bewick's Swan have been obtained in several 

 parts of Scotland ; and Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, has re- 

 corded that this species is certainly more common in Ireland 

 than the Hooper. Several strings of them, as they are there 

 called from the form in which they fly, were seen in January 

 1836 ; single individuals were brought to market occasionally, 

 by which museums and collectors were supplied ; and Mr. 

 Thompson particularly mentions that in February, 1830, a 

 flock containing seven of these Swans alighted in a flooded 

 meadow near Belfast, when they were shot at, and two of 

 them so disabled by the one discharge, as to be, after some 

 difficulty secured. They were bought by William Sinclairc, 

 Esq., and on their wounds being found so trivial as merely 

 to incapacitate them from flight, were placed in his aquatic 

 menagerie, where, in company with many other species of 

 wild-fowl, chiefly Anatida, they have ever since remained. 

 Mr. Sinclaire also mentions, that every spring and autumn 

 since he has had these Swans, they have regularly, about the 

 months of March and September, become very restless, and 

 for the period of at least three weeks have wandered from the 

 enclosure within which they are contented to remain all the 

 rest of the year. In disposition they are timid and extremely 

 gentle, and never attempt to molest any of the wild-fowl 

 confined in the same pond with them, though all of these are 

 their inferiors in strength and size. Their call, chiefly uttered 

 at the migratory periods, is a low deep-toned whistle, once 

 repeated. On the water, the carriage of the Ci/gnus Bewickit 

 is intermediate in its character between that of the Mute 

 Swan and common goose ; but if these birds exhibit not the 

 grace and majesty of the former on this element, they appear 



