BLACK SWAN RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. 361 



THE BLACK SWAN. 



CYGNUS ATRATUS. 



DURING the very severe winter of 1828-29, some black swans 

 appeared on Loch Lomond, and one was shot. In 1863, one was 

 seen on the Firth of Clyde near Innellan, and after being watched 

 upwards of a day and a half, it was at length shot. This specimen 

 is now in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. Another was killed 

 out of a flock by Mr Clift, bird stuffer, Brechin, in December, 

 1865. Mr Clift informs me that the swans passed overhead 

 within easy range, as he lay in a field near Montrose Basin after 

 nightfall watching for ducks and wild geese; they were strong on 

 wing and travelling in silence, and he had no idea of the species 

 until the bird fell. A third was shot near Coupar-Angus in 

 November, 1867. In addition to these, Mr Graham has informed 

 me that one was seen on Loch Gilp two or three years ago. On 

 being told of the circumstance, he kept a look out, and at length 

 encountered the bird one day when rowing in his punt. " On 

 after inquiries," says Mr Graham, "I learned that no such bird had 

 ever been kept by any one in our part of the country, and so it 

 must have come from a long way off. I therefore regretted not 

 having shot it, as it was probably lost to its owner." 



There can, of course, be no doubt that all these swans had 

 escaped from private ponds, and that their occurrence in a state of 

 liberty merely shows the same restlessness in the bird that 

 occasionally affects other ornamental water-fowl. They seem, 

 however, to be able to forage well enough on their own account 

 when acting the part of deserters; but objects so marked as these 

 rarce aves of old, will never be allowed to give ornithologists any 

 idea how long they could survive in this country if left to 

 themselves. 



THE EUDDY SHIELDEAKE. 



T ADORN A RUTILA. 



THIS rare species, which appears to have occurred but in two or 

 three instances in England, and once in Ireland, has been met 

 with twice within Scottish limits. One of these specimens was 



