/O THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



BEWICK'S SWAN. 

 Cygnus Bewicki, Yarrell. 



On January 22nd, 1879, an excellent specimen of 

 Bewick's Swan was shot in an extraordinary way. 

 Some shooters were lying in wait for sea-gulls under 

 the shelter of a wood, the gulls returning from the 

 fields which had been manured with sprats, when a 

 Swan came flying in the same direction, following the 

 track of the Gulls at some height ; a number six shot 

 happened to touch a wing, the bird immediately 

 lowered, and dropped about a quarter of a mile off ; 

 it was pursued and captured. 



SHELDRAKE. 

 Tadorna cornuta (Gmel.). 



The Sheldrake comes into our river in severe 

 winters, always leaving the broad water to the many 

 vessels of trade ; they drop like other fowl under the 

 leeward side of a few sheltered spots in our creeks. 



SHOVELLER. 

 Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 



The noise and bustle on our river keeps nearly all 

 the wild fowl away, the Shoveller does not appear to 

 be one of those which will easily submit to it, they 

 come and are off again ; are very seldom shot. 



