HOOPER OR WHISTLING SWAN. 357 



kinds of wild fowl.* In October, 1844, the late Mr St. John, in 

 writing to Professor Innes, mentions having seen nearly three 

 hundred swans in the bay of Findhorn, in Morayshire. The birds 

 allowed him to stand at one hundred and fifty yards distance, and 

 count up to one hundred and ninety, when they all rose in a cloud, 

 and presented a magnificent sight while on wing. The following 

 notes by that pleasant writer show a practical acquaintance with 

 the bird which few naturalists have now an opportunity of 

 acquiring: "A large flight of these noble birds as they circle 

 round the fresh water lakes on their first arrival, is one of the 

 most beautiful sights imaginable. There is, too, a wild harmony 

 in their bugle -like cry as they wheel round and round, now 

 separating into small companies, as each family of five or six 

 seems inclined to alight, and now all joining again in a long 

 undulating line, waiting for the word of command from some old 

 leader whose long acquaintance with the country and its dangers 

 constitutes him a swan of note among the common herd. At last 

 this leader makes up his mind to alight, and in a few moments the 

 whole flock are gradually sinking down on the calm loch. After 

 a brief moment or two spent in looking round them, with straight 

 and erect necks they commence sipping the water, and turning 

 their flexible necks into a thousand graceful curves and attitudes." 

 The Rev. Alexander Stewart of Ballachulish, who has observed 

 the bird in Loch Shiel, in Moidart, and elsewhere in Inverness- 

 shire, speaks of its " loud and melodious note, which has a sort of 

 clang and semi-metallic ring about it not unlike that caused by 

 the sudden snapping of the overtightened string of a bass violin." 

 Much, no doubt, depends upon the situation of the listener. I 

 once heard a flight of swans after nightfall in the Outer Hebrides 

 giving utterance in the distance to a series of what I thought 

 pleasant enough sounds ; but, on another occasion, as ten of these 

 birds passed within shooting range, and vented their music on 

 me as I suddenly stood up to blaze both barrels (charged only 

 with No. 4) at their leader, I fancied a strong resemblance in their 

 cries to the discord of a German street band. My disappointment 

 on seeing the birds rise higher into the air unscathed, may have 

 induced the unfriendly comparison. 



* Mr R. Scot-Skirving has of late years observed wild swans in Aberlady 

 Roads, at the mouth of the Forth, in East Lothian. In 1867, two specimens 

 were seen there by that gentleman as early as the 26th August. 



