WINTER SHIFTS. 233 



Bewick's swans the small wild swan six in 

 number, pass overhead, low down over the wood- 

 lands. My glass has been on them from the 

 time the rush ! rush ! rush ! of their strong wings 

 gave notice of their approach, and it follows them 

 until they are lost in the distance. They came 

 from the south, and at full migrating speed are 

 making for the north-east. On the darkest night 

 you can tell if a swan or swans are passing over- 

 head, if low enough to be heard. No other bird 

 that I am acquainted with in England gives out 

 that strong measured rush! rush! rush! that the 

 swans do, whether wild or domesticated. Our own 

 tame swan, the most graceful bird of the whole 

 family, exists in a wild state in Russia, Poland, 

 Italy, Persia, Siberia, and elsewhere, in exactly the 

 same condition as he does domesticated here. Many 

 of our tame swans visit the tide when frozen out 

 from their inland waters, either of their own accord 

 or decoyed away by the trumpet-calls of wild swans 

 the mighty whooper or elk swan, the Polish swan, 

 or the small Bewick swan passing overhead. 



Our tame swans reach the tide, the open sea. 

 So far good : they see other fowl feeding on the 



