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



degrees become perfectly domiciled during the whole year in some 

 of the large marshes and lakes of Scotland or Ireland, where 

 prpper food and feeding-places could always be found by them. At 

 present they visit us generally about the middle of October. On 

 their first arrival in Findhorn Bay they are sometimes in immense 

 flocks. Last year I saw a flock of between two and three hun- 

 dred resting on the sands. After remaining quiet till towards 

 evening, they broke off into different smaller companies, of from 

 twenty to three or four birds in each, and dispersed in different 

 directions, all of them, however, inclining southwards. 



They probably return year after year to the same district of 

 country, taking with them either their own broods of the season 

 or any others that are inclined to join them. In the large flock 

 that I mentioned having seen last year, I could not distinguish 

 a single young bird. The cygnets of the wild swan, like those 

 of the tame one, are during the first season of a greyish white, 

 and are easily distinguished amongst the dazzling white plumage 

 of the old birds. When swans frequent any loch near the sea, 

 or any chain of fresh water lakes, if they are disturbed and fly 

 either to the sea or to some adjoining piece of water, they keep 

 always about the same line. When once you have taken notice 

 of the exact line of their flight, it is easy to get shots by sending 

 a person to put them up when seen feeding, having previously 

 concealed yourself in the direction of their course. 



It is useless shooting at them when coming towards you, and 

 the best chance of killing them is either to allow them to pass 

 before you fire, or, just as they are over your head, by jumping 

 up and showing yourself, you may make them turn off to the 

 right and left, in this way affording a fair chance to your shot, 

 which easily penetrates them when flying straight away. 



When in the water, a wild swan is not easy to kill, unless hit 

 in the head or neck, as they swim very flat and low, and their 

 feathers sit so close that shot will scarcely penetrate unless you 

 can fire from above the birds. 



I once winged a wild swan, who fell into a large and deep 

 loch. The rest of the birds flew away towards another piece of 

 water about a mile off. I had no retriever with me, but profiting 

 by the advice of my keeper, instead of attempting to get at the 

 bird in any way, I took a circuit, keeping myself concealed, 



