LXVIL HOOPER, OR WILD SWAN. 



(Cygnus musicus.) 



THE head of the Wild Swan was done from one which was taken 

 alive one very hard winter in a pond at Culzean Castle, in Ayr- 

 shire. I had the opportunity of drawing it. It was put in a 

 shed, and was not very wild or much agitated. It lived for 

 seven years afterwards on a small lake where the late Marquis of 

 Ailsa used to keep a variety of tame water-fowl. I have heard 

 of what I supposed must be Wild Swans being seen one winter 

 in Loch Ailort during severe weather. They were described to 

 me as " large white birds that made a whooping noise as they flew." 

 I was not there myself at the time, and never saw them except 

 in captivity in this country. I have heard of their being seen in 

 Loch Moidart, as well as Wild Geese. They are very commonly 

 to be seen in Iceland in summer. They have not the graceful 

 beauty of the tame Swan, who, " with arched neck between 

 her white wings mantling proudly rows her state with oary 

 feet." It is more like an attenuated goose, especially when 

 walking about on land. It is smaller than the tame Swan, 

 and has not the black knob on the base of the bill, nor does it 

 raise its wing feathers while swimming. 



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