158 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



from the muds near the embankment, and alighted 

 on the river a short distance from the shore ; ten of 

 these were adults, the other an immature bird in the 

 brown-grey plumage. When on the water they look 

 fully one third smaller than the Whooper, but float 

 higher out of the water, and have altogether a much 

 smaller appearance than the larger species. Their 

 plumage is brilliant white. They are also much tamer 

 than the Whooper, and in this case permitted an ap- 

 proach within one hundred yards before taking 

 flight*. The flocks of this species which occasionally 

 visit this district are composed almost exclusively of 

 adult birds. I have only met with two immature 

 specimens during the last fifteen years. 



207. CYGNUS OLOR (Gmelin) . The Mute Swan. 



Some Mute Swans which visited the Humber in 

 the severe winter of 1864-65 were probably frozen- 

 out birds. I had a very near view of one of these in 



* Mr. St. John (' Natural History and Sport in Moray,' p. 72) 

 remarks of this Swan that they a usually come in smaller com- 

 panies than the Hooper. I never see above eight of the Cygnus 

 bewickii together, usually only four or five. They are easily 

 distinguished, "being shorter and more compact-looking birds. 

 They also swim rather higher in the water, and are much tamer. 

 Until they have been shot at and frightened, it is easy to ap- 

 proach them. Their plumage is peculiarly white ; and the young 

 apparently are not of the same blue-grey as those of the Cygnus 

 fonts. I cannot assert this as a fact ; but I never saw one of the 

 Bewick's Swans that was not of a pure and snow-like white- 

 ness." 



