CHAP. TWENTY-FOUR MIGRATION 



aiming at a forest of necks. To my dismay, the gun did not 

 go off, the wet or something else having spoilt thecap.The 

 birdswereslowinrising,so without pullingtheothertrigger, 

 I put on another cap, and standing up, fired right and left 

 at two of the largest swans as they rose from the loch. The 

 cartridge told well on one, who fell dead into the water; the 

 other flew off after the rest of the flock.but presently turned 

 back, and after making two or three graceful sweeps over 

 the body of his companion, fell headlong, perfectly dead, 

 almost upon her body. The rest of the birds, after flying a 

 short distance away, also returned, and flew for aminute or 

 two in a confused flock over the two dead swans, uttering 

 their bugle-like and harmonious cries, but findingthat they 

 were not joined by their companions, presently fell into 

 their usual single rank, and went undulating off towards 

 the sea, where I heard them for a long time trumpeting and 

 calling. 



Handsome as heis,thewildswaniscertainlynotsograce- 

 ful on the water as a tame one. He has not the same proud 

 and elegant arch of the neck, nor does he put up his wings 

 while swimming, like two snow-white sails. On the land a 

 wild swan when winged makes such good way, that if he 

 gets much start it requires good running to overtake him. 



Their feathers are so strong and they have so much down 

 beneath the breast-feathers, that when coming towards you 

 over your head, no shot makes the least impression unless 

 you aim at their head and neck. 



If such constant warfare was not declared aeainst these 

 (now only occasional) visitors to this country, as well as 

 against many others.our lakes and woods would have many 

 317 



