ICELAND 89 



swans stand high on the ground and are very 

 watchful when on feed. Moreover, the only pos- 

 sible approach was from below and up the bed of 

 a small marsh streamlet, down which there was a 

 good chance of their flying if they were disturbed. 

 Geoff and Thorgrimmer prepared for a protracted 

 wait by the ponies, and I started on a long and 

 careful stalk. The first three hundred yards was 

 easy, as cover could be obtained, but to reach the 

 slight declivity a perfectly barren space of stones 

 must be crossed, and over this I gradually wriggled 

 without being seen. It was cold work to enter the 

 stream, but only by taking advantage of the marsh 

 grasses could my approach be concealed. I was 

 now within three hundred yards of the swans, who 

 were extremely restless, one of the birds keeping 

 watch whilst the other fed; but nearer and nearer 

 I crept whenever both their long necks were crooked 

 for a moment. As I approached the marsh the 

 reeds grew longer and the way became easier, till 

 at last, on taking a peep, I could see the top of 

 the watch bird's head at about one hundred yards' 

 distance. Hardly had I settled down again to 

 move on than a loud flapping and singing noise 

 produced by the grand birds on the wing told me 

 that they were up, and on looking over the reeds 

 I saw to my delight both the swans coming straight 

 towards me. The cock — much the larger bird of 

 the two — sailed over my head at about twenty 

 yards, and I dropped him stone dead with my right 

 barrel. I could easily have killed the hen, as she 

 was a little behind, but I let her go, as she was of 

 no use for scientific examination, and I had already 

 good specimens obtained some years before in the 



