BIRDS OP THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 157 



have doubtless given rise to the legend, common in 

 some form or other to all the northern races, of 

 the demon huntsman and his infernal pack. 



In the 'Zoologist' for 1871, p. 2504, Mr. Boulton 

 and Mr. Boyes have drawn attention to the singular 

 conformation of the upper mandible in this species, 

 which possesses a hinge-like joint allowing a greater 

 extension and distention of the mouth ; so that whilst 

 in feeding the lower mandible would act as a sort of 

 shovel, the readily mobile upper mandible works as 

 a sieve or trap upon it to filter matter passing through, 

 retaining and adapting itself to the size of those 

 matters fit for food. 



206. CYGNUS MINOR, Keys, and Blasius. Bewick's 

 Swan. 



Provincial. Little Swan. 



An occasional visitant to the Humber in severe 

 winters, but never in such large numbers as the pre- 

 ceding. Like the Whoopers, however, was excep- 

 tionally numerous in the very severe winter of 

 1870-71. 



In the 'Zoologist' for 1871, p. 2644, Mr. Boyes 

 mentions two flocks of this Swan as seen in that season 

 on the river Hull, one of nine, the other of twenty- 

 two birds. One shot weighed 11^ Ibs., and measured 

 4 feet in length, 6 feet 6 inches across the wings. 



On the 2nd of January in the same winter I saw a 

 flock of eleven off the coast in this parish. They rose 



