MOULTING. 435 



when instinct, and the cries of their wild brethren overhead, 

 told them they should be off to other latitudes. 



M. von Wright, who had also two domesticated hoopers, 

 says : " Neither of them shed the wing- or the tail-feathers 

 oftener than every other year, possibly in consequence of their 

 being in confinement. Both were perfectly mute from the 

 time they lost the old wing-feathers until the new ones had 

 replaced them. This is the case with all the ducks, for none 

 of them whilst shedding the wing-feathers will utter the least 

 cry, unless their lives be in great jeopardy. All the wing- 

 feathers of the hooper are shed within twenty-four hours ; 

 but moulting, as regards the body-feathers, goes on without 

 cessation the whole year round ; so that, even during the 

 most severe part of the winter, one always finds at least an 

 odd blood-feather, more especially with younger birds. The 

 hooper when in the water does not carry its wings elevated 

 in like manner as the mute swan ; it is only very little, 

 indeed, that it raises them over its back, somewhat more, 

 however, when it is angry, and then in such wise that a 

 furrow, the breadth of one's hand, and extending the whole 

 length of the back, is formed between them." 



In Sweden, as with us in England (always excepting the 

 cygnets), no great value, so far as the larder is concerned, 

 is set upon the hooper, or other swan. But such would not 

 seem to be the case in all countries. " Though I must 

 acknowledge that the flesh of the swan cannot be classed 

 amongst delicacies," says a German author, " I have never- 

 theless found that when cold, and with the addition of 

 mustard, it is not to be despised. When salted, or smoked, 

 it is excellent in cabbage-soup. As the swan, for the most 

 part, subsists on aquatic plants and worms and never, 



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