THE TRUE SWANS. 



251 



Swan was feeding alone, not as yet daring to associate with the 

 distinguished strangers. It was pleasant to contrast the long- 

 drawn, flat bodies of the Whoopers with the more rounded 

 outline of Cygnus olor. The wild fellows swam together ; one 

 and another arched their necks backward in a loop, dipped 

 gracefully forward, and then, raising their necks, allowed the 

 water to trickle over their shoulders. This was their method 

 of bathing, but there was nothing violent about it. On the 

 contrary the action was easy and majestic, as became such 

 lordly fowl. When they caught sight of us they became meta- 

 morphosed at once into a ' stiff-necked generation,' and hurried 

 off in line through the sedge. Reaching open water on the 

 other side they became somnolent, first one, and then another, 

 gracefully reclined at ease, floating idly on the water, and 

 burying their long and supple necks in the dense feathering of 

 their dorsal plumage, while on either side their two companions 

 kept vigilant watch with necks uplifted, and intent to detect 

 any signs of renewed danger. It was noontide, and the winter 

 sun shone out upon the still waters of the lough ; before us, on 

 the farther margin of the bank of sedge, floated the strange 

 voyageurs, behind the birds was a tiny sea of glittering waters, 

 against which the forms of these beautiful strangers looked 

 dark by force of contrast. Only when we showed more openly 

 did the Whoopers forego their attitude of disengaged ease ; 

 hitherto they had contented themselves with occasionally 

 uttering their trumpet-call, but now a bird * hooped] and again 

 they crossed the sedge, this time in a fresh direction. So 

 strongly matted together was the aquatic vegetation, at least in 

 one place, that instead of swimming through, the Swans lifted 

 their legs over the submerged plants which barred their pro- 

 gress ; they swayed their bodies heavily as they crossed the 

 barrier and regained an open track through the sedge. All at 

 once the leader sounded his bugle-call, slightly throwing up 

 the head when expelling the sound. A second bird passed, 

 and the leader fell back in the file, but continued to sound his 

 musical refrain at intervals. We found it difficult to describe 

 their * clang ' on paper. When we showed ourselves, we heard 

 distinctly, ' hoop-hooper-hoop '/ then came a ' clang ' followed 

 by another ' hoop.' When a bird hoops, the neck is stiffened ; 

 this exercise is generally followed by a slight pause." 



