382 BOAT SHOOTING, UNDER SAIL. 



which they are difficult to distinguish, unless you hear 

 them hoop. But when near enough to inspect the head 

 you can be no longer in doubt, as the naked skin above 

 the bill in the tame swan is black, and in the wild swan 

 bright yellow. Under two years of age the hoopers, 

 like other cygnets, are not white, but more or less of a 

 dull fawn colour, and then the yellow is much less 

 brilliant ; though still plain enough to distinguish them 

 from swans of the tame species. Moreover, the tame 

 swan has a protuberance just above the bill, where the 

 forehead of the wild swan rises gradually in profile, 

 though it is rather hollow when inspected from the 

 centre. [I write this with a stuffed specimen of the 

 tame swan, and each specimen of the hooper now before 

 me.] 



An octavo volume might be rapidly filled, without 

 reference to any other work, on the mere subject of 

 shooting all the foregoing birds ; but, through con- 

 sideration for my reader's patience, I shall now conclude, 

 sincerely hoping that I have given all the real informa- 

 tion which is absolutely necessary for his pursuit of 

 them. 



BOAT SHOOTING, 

 UNDER SAIL, OUTSIDE OF HARBOUR. 



(As no one, I presume, would go afloat without either 

 having sailors, or being pretty good amateur sailors 

 themselves, it would be needless, as well as difficult, to 

 write otherwise than in nautical terms.) 



We now take our leave of the harbour, and will have 



