Pirie WEE Ro PN APRS 17 
keeper fondly called him. But though his 
particular pet he is a vicious bird he tells 
us, and if we stopped would get into the punt 
and ‘ go’ for us. Only the oars hold him at a 
respectful distance. But once when I was 
not keeping my eyes on him he made a fierce 
lunge at the black cloth on the camera, and 
I was afraid he had broken the focussing 
screen. His mate had died long ago, and 
no other bird can live with him. He had 
killed a choice Chinese goose and some other 
favourites. Though smaller than the ordin- 
ary white swans (like our friends of Swan 
Island, see Part I, p. 15), it is probable he 
would have the best of it in a fight with one 
of these. And as we go on, he pursues us, 
exhibiting a remarkable power of paddling 
(though his round body offered considerable 
resistance to the water), churning it up into 
great swirls at his sides, and leaving a con- 
siderable wake in his rear. Even the large 
round now yellowish green water-lily leaves, 
as yet much below the surface, were agi- 
tated as he passed over them. But as 
B.N.—III, é 
