BEWICK'S SWAN. 



the surface of the earth. They flew in a line, taking a 

 northerly direction, and their loud calls, for they were y ery 

 clamorous when on the wing, might be heard to a con- 

 siderable distance. I afterwards learned that they alighted 

 on an extensive reservoir near Middleton, belonging to 

 Messrs. Burton and Sons, calico-printers, where they were 

 shot at, and an individual had one of its wings so severely 

 injured that it was disabled from accompanying its com- 

 panions in their retreat. A short time since I had an 

 opportunity of seeing this bird, which resembled the rest 

 of the flock with which it had been associated, and found, 

 as I had anticipated, that it was precisely similar to the 

 small Swan preserved in the Museum at Manchester, which, 

 I should state, was purchased in the fish market in that 

 town, about five or six years ago. 



" Twenty-nine of these birds congregated together, with 

 out a single Whistling Swan among them, is a fact so 

 decisive of the distinctness of the species, especially when 

 taken in connection with those external characters and in- 

 ternal structure in which it differs from the Hooper, that 

 I should no longer have deferred to describe it as a new 

 bird to ornithologists, had I not been anticipated by Mr. 

 Yarrell. 



" Of the habits and manners of this species, little could 

 be ascertained from a brief inspection of a wounded indi- 

 vidual ; I may remark, however, that when on the water, 

 it had somewhat the air and appearance of a Goose, being 

 almost wholly devoid of that grace and majesty by which 

 the Mute Swan is so advantageously distinguished. It 

 appeared to be a shy and timid bird, and could only be 

 approached near by stratagem, when it intimated its ap- 

 prehension by uttering its call. It carefully avoided the 

 society of a Mute Swan which was on the same piece of 

 water* 



