i88 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



most plentiful here in severe winters ; it is generally 

 found in greater numbers in Ireland than elsewhere in 

 these islands. 



It is possible that two North American species of the 

 genus Cygnus occasionally get so far blown out of their 

 course on autumnal immigration southward from Arctic 

 breeding quarters as to touch these islands. These are 

 the Trumpeter swan, C. buccinator, and the common 

 American swan, C. columbianus. In October 1866 four 

 Trumpeter swans were killed out of a herd of five at 

 Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. Of these two swans 

 the Trumpeter is the larger bird, some of which have 

 been measured, showing the enormous wing-stretch of 

 8 ft, and a length of more than 5 ft. 



Wild geese have ever been important objects of the 

 fowler's quest. Time was when this section of our 

 Anatidce numbered less than half-a-dozen members. 

 -Colonel Hawker, prince among wild-fowlers, and other 

 sportsmen of the early part of last century, could pretty 

 well enumerate the geese upon the fingers of one hand, 

 thus : Grey-lag, White-fronted, Bean, Bernicle and 

 Brent. Since that period naturalists have been so busy 

 that this short list has at length been extended to about 

 double its former proportions. Some sixty years or so 

 ago, the Pink-footed goose was discovered and added to 

 the British list as an entirely distinct and thoroughly 

 good species. Thirty or more years later the last 

 recorded and truly authentic example of a British-killed 

 Red-breasted goose was secured by Mr. J. E. Harting. 

 This remarkably handsome goose from Northern and 

 Central Asia was shot on the coast of Essex, and thereby 

 all former doubts were set at rest, and this goose's claim 

 to the title of British was thoroughly established. 



