1 64 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Swans The Hooper Bewick's Swan The Polish and Mute Swans. 



WILD SWANS (Cygnus ferus and minor) are the 

 easiest of fowl to obtain if once within a fair dis- 

 tance. They are very slow in taking wing, and give 

 ample notice of their intention to quit. This they 

 do by heading up against the wind ; or, when calm, 

 by clustering together as if in consultation, and loth 

 to leave. Even when their minds seem made up, 

 and a start is determined on, they beat along the 

 water fully fifty yards ere their wings are clear, and 

 a full stroke obtainable. 



Unless exceptional circumstances arise, the fowler 

 should push on his best until he sees them almost 

 off the surface ; at this moment their necks and wings 

 are more favourably extended than when swimming. 

 If, however, he should chance to meet with but 

 two or three within shot and together, it is wiser to 

 take them at once, for, of course, a few are more 

 likely to open out on rising than a good-sized herd. 

 If a solitary bird, or only a small number, be encoun- 

 tered, it should be well ascertained that they are not 

 wanderers from a neighbour's private lake. If so, 

 they are easily distinguished by their size and the 

 black knob at the base of the bill, the extremity of 

 which is yellow. In wild swans these colours are 

 exactly reversed, the base of the bill being yellow 



