194 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. xxiv. 



where they all alighted. My commander for the time being 1 , 

 then explained to me, that the water in this loch was every 

 where too deep for the swans to reach the bottom even with 

 their long necks, in order to pull up the weeds on which they 

 fed, and that at their feeding-time, that is about two o'clock, 

 they would, without doubt, fly over to the smaller lochs, and 

 probably to the same one from which we had originally disturbed 

 them. I was accordingly placed in my ambuscade, leaving the 

 keeper at some distance, to help me as opportunity offered a 

 cold comfortless time of it we (i. e. my retriever and myself) 

 had. About two o'clock, however, I heard the swans rise from 

 the upper loch, and in a few moments they all passed high over 

 my head, and after taking a short survey of our loch (luckily 

 without seeing me), they alighted at the end of it farthest from the 

 place where I was ensconced, and quite out of shot, and they seemed 

 more inclined to move away from me than come towards me. 

 It was very curious to watch these wild birds as they swam 

 about, quite unconscious of danger and looking like so many 

 domestic fowls. Now came the able generalship of my keeper, 

 who seeing that they were inclined to feed at the other end of 

 the loch, began to drive them towards me, at the same time 

 taking great care not to alarm them enough to make them take 

 flight. This he did by appearing at a long distance off, and 

 moving about without approaching the birds, but as if he was 

 pulling grass or engaged in some other piece of labour. When 

 the birds first saw him, they all collected in a cluster, and 

 giving a general low cry of alarm, appeared ready to take flight : 

 this was the ticklish moment, but soon outwitted by his ma- 

 noeuvres, they dispersed again and busied themselves in feeding. 

 I observed that frequently all their heads were under the water 

 at once, excepting one but invariably one bird kept his head 

 and neck perfectly erect, and carefully watched on every side to 

 prevent their being taken by surprise ; when he wanted to feed, 

 he touched any passer-by, who immediately relieved him in his 

 guard, and he in his turn called on some other swan to take his 

 place as sentinel. 



After waiting some little time, and closely watching the birds 

 in all their graceful movements, sometimes having a swan within 

 half a shot of me, but never getting two or three together, I 



