546 llev. II. N. Iliud on the IVhooper Sirans 



XIX. — Note oil the Whooper Swans which visit the 

 liivcr Eden in Cnniherlaad. By The Rev. II. N. IIiNn. 



(Text-figure 15.) 



As an instance of wild Ijjrds responding to care and attention, 

 Avliere such treatment is afforded tliem, the following record 

 of some annual visits of Whooper Swans {Cygnus musicus) 

 to the city of Carlisle during the ])ast eight years may be of 

 interest to readers of ' The Ibis.' 



In December 1904 a Whooper Swan of the year appeared on 

 the River Eden at Carlisle, consorting with the Mute Swans 

 kept by the Corporation of the city. It was first recognised 

 by Mr. D. L. Thorpe^ TM.B.O.U., and its arrival was soon well 

 known. It became quite tame after a while, and would go 

 to be fed by the park-keeper along with the Mute Swans. 

 It stayed all through the winter, and leit on May 8th, 1905. 



The bird returned to its winter-quarters at Carlisle on 

 the IGth of November, 1905, and left for its northern home 

 on the 29th of April, 190f). The following winter it leturned 

 to Carlisle on the 30th of November, 1906, and it left on 

 the 7ih of May, 1907. The bird's next appearance was 

 ou February 1st, 1908, this being the latest date of its arrival 

 up to that time. It left again on May 6th, 1908. In 1909 

 its arrival w as later still, namely, on the 28th of February, 

 while it left on April 21st. 



The following winter an interesting event happened, for on 

 the 24th of December, 1909, no fewer than four Whoopers 

 appeared, all of them adults. 



On their arrival they were very shy, with the exception of 

 the old bird that had come for so many winters. This bird 

 came to be fed as usual, but the other three kept aloof in 

 mid>tream. By the first wxek in January 1910, the three new 

 comers had gained confidence, and swam up to be fed along 

 Avith the old Whooper and the Mute Swans, and would allow 

 passers-by to walk within four yards of them before they 

 swam away. One jialr of this company of four Whoopers 



