1 98 ANATID^E. 



" On the 28th of February 1830, at half-past ten in 

 the morning, seventy- three Swans, of the new species, 

 were observed flying over Crumpsall in a south-easterly 

 direction, at a considerable elevation. They flew abreast, 

 forming an extensive line, like those seen on the 10th of 

 December, 1829 ; like them, too, they were mistaken for 

 Wild Geese by most persons who saw them with whom 

 I had an opportunity of conversing on the subject ; but 

 their superior dimensions, the whiteness of their plumage, 

 their black feet, easily distinguished as they passed over- 

 head, and their reiterated calls, which first directed my 

 attention to them, were so strikingly characteristic, that 

 skilful ornithologists could not be deceived with regard to 

 the genus to which they belonged. That these birds were 

 not Hoopers may be safely inferred from their great in- 

 feriority in point of size." 



" I was informed, that when the Wild Swans were shot 

 at, near Middleton on the 10th of December, 1829, one 

 of them was so reluctant to abandon the bird which was 

 wounded on that occasion, that it continued to fly about 

 the spot for several hours after the rest of the flock had 

 departed, and that, during the whole of this period, its 

 mournful cry was heard almost incessantly. In conse- 

 quence of the protracted disturbance caused by the per- 

 severing efforts of Messrs. Burton's workmen to secure its 

 unfortunate companion, it was at last, however, compelled 

 to withdraw, and was not seen again till the 23rd of 

 March, when a Swan, supposed to be the same individual, 

 made its appearance in the neighbourhood, flew several 

 times round the reservoir in lofty circles, and ultimately 

 descended to the wounded bird, with which, after a cordial 

 meeting, it immediately paired. The newly arrived Swan, 

 which proved to be a male bird, soon became accustomed 

 to the presence of strangers ; and, when I saw it on the 



