96 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



killed on the coast at Drigg, in February, 1883, 

 when its companion escaped, was very possibly a 

 genuine wild bird ; but it appears to us to be im- 

 possible to distinguish between wild birds and 

 stragglers from private waters. 



The following passage apparently refers to the 

 Mute Swan at Bassenthwaite : — 



'' There come every year a number of Swans to 

 winter upon this water, and in the spring, they 

 breed on the little islands in the water, or in the 

 sedge, growing by the sides of it ; and as soon as 

 the young brood gets wing, the old ones carry them 

 into the southern rivers." [Robinson, Essay toward 

 the Natural History of Westmorland and Cumber- 

 land (1709), p. 60.) 



C. Miisicus. Whooper Swan. 



The Whooper is a scarce winter visitant, but indi- 

 viduals are killed from time to time, chiefly near the 

 Solway and in the Eden valley. Mr. Dobson in- 

 forms us, that, on one occasion, in early spring, he 

 observed an interesting flight of Swans on Tyndal 

 Tarn. A dense fog prevailed until midday, when it 

 dispersed, and revealed a party of thirty wild Swans 

 resting on the water. When the atmosphere cleared, 

 the birds rose and flew off in a northerly direction. 

 A similar party was noticed the same day at Talkin 

 Tarn, and Mr. Dobson considered that the original 

 flock had divided in the fog, and had sought shelter 

 on the two tarns until the weather permitted the 

 continuance of their journey. 



