WILD SWANS. 165 



and the extremity black. If you happen to get a 

 herd of swans, or even one, to leeward, in a corner, 

 or surrounded by land, especially high land, you may 

 take your time ; the chances are they will pass within 

 easy shot. A swan cannot rise save facing the wind ; 

 or surmount a wood or low hill, without two or three 

 gradually ascending circles. On such occasions you 

 may get a charge into them with the large gun, and 

 bring down a couple more with the cripple stoppers. 

 Except as presents, however, or trophies for a hall 

 or museum, swans are scarcely worth following ; 

 though, if so inclined, you can cut pipe- stems and 

 pens from their quills, and stuff a quilt with the 

 down to cover you on winter nights. 



Wild swans in Ireland are so numerous that notes 

 regarding their capture are hardly necessary; though 

 some account of their habits and haunts may be of 

 interest. They may be seen in most winters round 

 the Irish coast in herds of from five to twenty, and 

 now and then fifty to one hundred ; but this is sel- 

 dom the case. I have counted as many as two 

 hundred together, and the noise they made on rising, 

 caused by the wings beating smartly against the 

 water, was most curious, resembling the snapping 

 of a number of strong sticks. 



In Belfast Lough, swans are rarely seen. In 

 the county of Sligo they are occasional ; three 

 Hoopers were shot by Sir H. Gore Booth, at Lissa- 

 dell, in December, 1875. Two hundred swans, 

 presumably Bewick's, visited the Malahide River, 

 near Dublin, during severe frost and N.E. winds, 

 in 1867, remaining but one week. They are regular 

 visitants to this place, but as there is no sale for 



