NATURAL HISTORY OF THE WILD SWAN. 279 



ways, the creature managed to paddle itself out into 

 the waves, every now and then uttering its wild, 

 piping cry. There was no boat nearer than a mile ; 

 we, however, set off full speed, and with a shock- 

 headed urchin at the helm, launched into the deep. 

 The wind was blowing a perfect gale, the waves lash- 

 ing over, wetting us to the skin ; and every time we 

 dianged our course, we were in danger of being 

 swamped. We had almost given up hope, especially 

 as the white foam of the bursting waves was so exactly 

 like the object of our search as to prevent our dis- 

 tinguishing it at any distance, when the ' gilly ' at the 

 helm called out, ' I hear him.' All eyes were strained 

 in every direction, and the poor swan was at last seen 

 rising over the billows like the spirit of the tempest. 

 There was much difficulty, and some danger, in get- 

 ting it safe on board, and, in all probability, we 

 should never have perceived it, had it not betrayed 

 itself by its dying song." 



The Wild Swan, or Hooper, of British authors 

 (Anas cygnus). It is supposed by some eminent 

 naturalists of the present day, that there are several 

 varieties of the wild swan, and a couple, or more, of 

 the hooper. 



In three killed by Colonel Hawker at a shot (of 

 the latter variety), the space above the bill was of 

 bright yellow. In another place he also killed three 

 at a shot, and of these the space above the bills was 

 pale flesh colour. The Linnaean Society have disco- 

 vered another distinct species, smaller, and internally 



