WILD SWANS. DO 



middle of which the shallow and devious channel 

 might be perceived winding like a silver thread 

 on its way to the sea. 



At this moment, however, the tide was at the 

 highest, and a glance into the distance was suffi- 

 cient to show me the object which had attracted 

 the man's observation. Several flocks of wild 

 fowl, apparently brent geese, wigeon, scaup 

 ducks, pochards, and tufted ducks, were swim- 

 ming near the further side of the estuary, while 

 in the midst of these, like a naval squadron 

 among a fleet of fishing boats, sailed a noble herd 

 of wild swans. I soon perceived that they were 

 too far from the shore to admit of my getting a 

 shot at them, and had therefore no choice but 

 either to wait patiently in expectation of some 

 of the party separating from the main body 

 and wandering up one of the narrow creeks on 

 the opposite side of the harbour, when by tak- 

 ing a circuitous route, and availing myself of 

 any intervening object that might project above 

 the flat banks of the swamp, I might perhaps 

 succeed in stalking them, or else to proceed in 

 search of a less noble quarry. I at once chose 

 the former alternative. 



As I swept the shores of the estuary with the 

 spy-glass, I had the satisfaction of observing that 

 my sport was not likely to be anticipated by any 



