MUTE SWAN 83 



MUTE SWAN. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 8; 

 Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 418 ; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 28. 



As we watch this magnificent and stately bird gliding 

 leisurely through the waters of our parks and rivers, now 

 and again drawing up to the brink to accept the proffered 

 cake or biscuit from the hand of even the most timid child, 

 no creature could appear more thoroughly domesticated 

 and accustomed to the society of man. Yet the Mute 

 Swan maintains itself on unprotected lakes, and breeds in 

 a semi-feral state in many parts of the British Isles. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Saunders, it is said to have been introduced 

 into England in the time of Eichard I., having originally 

 come from Cyprus. It is generally distributed in England 

 and Scotland, breeding, during recent years, in the Outer 

 Hebrides, where the birds fly as if wild. 



With reference to its occurrence in Ireland, Mr. Ussher 

 states that it " has increased to considerable flocks in 

 favourable localities." 



When boating in Dublin Bay, I have met the Mute 

 Swan resting on the open sea ; I have seen solitary indi- 

 viduals flying across the city of Dublin, some fifty yards 

 above the highest buildings, and judging from their heavy 

 form, I am of the opinion that they were Mute Swans. I 

 have seen them in midsummer as well as in winter, which 

 tends to prove that they were not migrating, but were simply 

 unpinioned birds from ornamental waters, locally changing 

 their quarters. 



In the ' Birds of Ireland,' Mr. Ussher states that 

 " when the resorts of these birds become crowded, small 

 parties go forth on the wing, not only to other lakes and 

 rivers, but in many places to the coast ; thus Mr. Warren 

 has seen seven adults in Killala Bay, and Mr. Sheridan 

 has met with others in Achill, while six were approached 

 and one shot on Dundalk Bay a mile from land." During 

 hard winters the numbers of Mute Swans are increased 

 by migrants arriving from Denmark, Sweden, and other 

 countries of Europe. These visitors which may or may 

 not remain to breed in the British Isles are distinctly 

 wild birds. It has been stated that a blow from a Swan's 

 wing is of sufficient strength to break a man's leg. This 

 can hardly be true, judging from the size of the wing 



