78 ANATIDJE 



stringy. Many a fowler lets an opportunity pass of 'bag- 

 ging ' with one discharge from his heavy staunchion gun, 

 half a dozen or more of these great birds : it is sentiment 

 and perhaps superstition on the part of the gunner that 

 often saves a Wild Swan's life. In the West of Ireland this 

 is particularly noticeable. The late Mr. Watters, in his 

 charming little book on ' Birds of Ireland,' gives the follow- 

 ing romantic account : " On the authority of Mr. B. Glennon, 

 towards spring the small lakes in the county of Mayo are 

 tenanted by flocks of these birds congregated there pre- 

 paratory to their return to those regions of snow to which 

 their plumage accords, and approximates so chastely in 

 appearance. And, strange to say, although they occur in 

 considerable numbers at that time, they are never interfered 

 with or molested by the peasants of the neighbourhood, on 

 account of a tradition that the souls of virgins (?) who, 

 whilst living, had been remarkable for the purity of their 

 lives, were after death enshrined in the form of these birds, 

 as emblematic of their purity and beatitude ; for this reason 

 they remain in safety, as it is also believed that whoever 

 would be so unlucky as to meddle with them would pay 

 for his temerity by the forfeit of his life, ere the year had 

 elapsed." 



From remote ages the Swan has been loved and admired 

 by mankind, as is well illustrated by the numerous poetical 

 descriptions of its beautiful unsullied plumage, gentle form, 

 and graceful flight : 



" So the white swans from the firmament swoop, 

 With their gong-throated queen a beautiful troop 

 "Wheeling gracefully earthward, and floating as though 

 The young winds were wooing fair cloudlets of snow." 



Flight. The flight of this great bird, when once fairly 

 under way, is rapid and strong, but owing to its heavy 

 weight, the Whooper rises in a rather clumsy manner. 

 The flapping of the wings of a flock rising off the surface 

 of the water, may be likened to the cracking of a whip 

 rapidly repeated. The swishing sound of the wings can be 

 heard after the birds have ascended to a considerable 

 height. 



Voice. This Swan derives its name from the sound of 

 its voice, which, when heard at a distance, resembles a 

 rather full-toned whistle. It is not a vibrating sound ; it 

 is a clear prolonged whoo-wlioo, followed by a pause and 



