BEWICK'S SWAN. 359 



BEWICK'S SWAN. 



CYGNUS BEW1CKIL 



IN the Outer Hebrides this, the smallest of our British swans, is 

 well recognised; it frequents the same lakes as the Hooper, and is 

 easily distinguished from that species, even at a distance. Some- 

 times a flock is seen to remain together in a compact body, and 

 continue for some time feeding on the shallower parts of the loch, 

 thus affording a good " family shot " to the watchful sportsman. 

 Mr Dugald M'Donald has informed me that he killed three of 

 these birds at one shot on a loch in Benbecula in 1859. The flock, 

 on being fired at, rose steadily into the air, leaving two of their 

 number on the water, one killed outright, and the other winged 

 so as to be unable to rise; and after attaining a considerable 

 height, they directed their flight northwards in the direction of 

 the Sound, and were speedily out of sight. In the meantime my 

 friend, having secured his two birds, was preparing for a homeward 

 march, when, to his great surprise, the same flock, after an 

 absence of half-an-hour, returned to the loch they had left, and 

 began circling in their course before alighting. In a few minutes 

 he observed one of their number turn over and fall lifeless with a 

 splash into the water. A shot like this can seldom now-a-days be 

 recorded in connection with any British locality. 



On Loch Lomond, Bewick's Swan has been once or twice 

 obtained, and it has also occurred on Hogganfield Loch, near 

 Glasgow. In January and February, 1871, four specimens were 

 shot on Castle Semple estate, Renfrewshire, and early in the 

 latter month other two were killed at Barnashalag, in Argyle- 

 shire. All these birds were preserved by Mr M'Culloch, bird 

 stuffer, Glasgow, in whose hands I saw them. Mr George 

 Kirkpatrick informs me that five specimens were shot in Wig- 

 townshire in January, 1871, and sent to Mr Hastings, bird 

 stuffer, Dumfries, for preservation. In the east of Scotland it has 

 likewise been noticed from Berwickshire to the Shetlands, where 

 it is known as a regular winter visitant, appearing at the same 

 season as the hooper. At D unbar, and other places in East 

 Lothian, it has been met with occasionally, but chiefly in im- 

 mature plumage. 



