ST. JOHN'S WILD SWAN SHOOTING. 201 



we had origiually disturbed them. I was accordingly 

 phiced iu my ambuscade, leaving the keeper at some 

 distance to help me as opportunity offered. A cold 

 comfortless time of it my retriever and myself had. 

 About two o'clock, however, I heard the swans rise from 

 the upper loch, and in a few minutes they all passed 

 over my head ; and after taking a short survey of our 

 loch, luckily without seeing me, they all alighted at the 

 end of it farthest from the place where I was ensconced, 

 and quite out of shot; and they seemed more inclined 

 to move away from me than come towards me. It was 

 very curious to watch these wild birds as they swam 

 about, quite unconscious of danger. Now came the 

 able generalship of my keeper, who, seeing that they 

 were inclined to feed at the other end of the loch, 

 began to drive them towards me, at the same time 

 taking great care not to alarm them enough to make 

 them take flight ; this he did by appearing at a long 

 distance off, and mo\^ng about without ajjj^roaching the 

 birds, but as if he was pulling grass or engaged in some 

 other labour. When the birds first saw him they all 

 collected iu a cluster, and giving a general low cry of 

 alarm, appeared ready to take flight. This was the 

 ticklish moment ; but soon, outwitted by his manoeuvres, 

 they disported again, and busied themselves in feeding. 

 I observed that frequently all their heads were under 

 the water at once, except one ; but invariably one bird 

 kept his head and neck above water, perfectly erect, and 

 carefully watching on every side to prevent their being 

 taken by surprise ; when he wanted to feed he touched 

 any passer-by, who immediately relieved him in his 

 guard, and he in his turn called upon some other swan 

 to perform the same duty. After waiting some little 



