WILD SWANS. 



167 



moving wings 



often lead the shooter into a miscal- 

 culation of aim. A swan skims down wind as fast 

 as a duck, but its huge bulk prevents its speed being 

 realized. Be careful not to drag a wounded swan 

 into a boat ; he will thrash away in great style, and 

 give much trouble. Old yarns have it that a blow 

 from a swan's wing can break a leg or arm. This 

 is utterly erroneous ; for though the large quills 

 have the strength and elasticity of steel, the 



SWANS HOOPER, BEWICK'S, MUTE, AND POLISH. 



bones of a swan's wing are too yielding and flex- 

 ible to harm man or dog. A lash as from a 

 switch may be possible, but the dangerous stroke of 

 a cudgel never. Their cry is clear and resonant, 

 especially that of Bewick's Swan, which resembles 

 a note of music, or twang of fiddlestrings. 



There are but two wild species to be met with in 

 Ireland, the Hooper and Bewick's Swan. A rarer 

 species, that has very seldom been obtained, is the 



