2276 The Zoologist — September, J 870. 



the bill, but it cannot be confounded with A. albifrons. The 

 appearance of this, as well as many other northern birds, in southern 

 latitudes, depends so much upon the severity of our winters, that their 

 occurrence at suitable periods ought not to be looked upon as 

 improbable. 



Bean Goose. — This is our common wild goose observed in severe 

 winters in large flocks : unless there is a strong frost, and of some 

 continuance, in the north, they are seldom seen in the southern and 

 western counties. 



Whitefronted Goose. — Not unfrequently obtained at the Land's 

 End in the winter months. 



Bernicle Goose. — Sometimes obtained from the Land's End marshes, 

 and it has been observed in Mount's Bay. 



Brent Goose. — Occasional visitant, and in considerable flocks in 

 hard winters: during severe frost they appear to be oceanic in their 

 habits, frequenting Mount's Bay at a distance of from half-a-mile to a 

 mile from the land. 



Spurwinged Goose. — The only recorded British specimen was killed 

 near St. Germans, in June, 1821, and, in a mutilated state, was given 

 by Mr. Henry Mewburn, of that place, to the late Mr. Bewick, whose 

 figure, in his ' British Birds,' was taken from this individual, — a most 

 valuable acquisition to the Cornish Fauna. 



Hooper or Wild Swan. — The hooper is generally observed in the 

 western counties after a long continuance of hard frost, and the bird 

 is then observed in some numbers in harbours, &c. 



Bewick's Swan. — This species was so long confounded with the 

 former, as a small variety, that I have ventured to record it as 

 Cornish : the distinctive characters of the two birds are beautifully 

 illustrated in a series of anatomical engravings by Mr. Yarrell, in his 

 third vol. of British Birds.' 



Mute Swan. — Only known as domesticated. 



[This bird being identified with Orpheus, and called also the bird of 

 Apollo, the god of music, powers of song have often been attributed 

 to it and as often denied : it is, however, perfectly true that it has a 

 soft low voice, rather plaintive, and with little variety, but not disagree- 

 able. I have heard it often in the spring, and sometimes later in the 

 season, when moving slowly about with its young. Col. Hawker, in 

 his ' Instructions to young Sportsmen,' says, " The only note which I 

 ever heard the wild swan utter in winter is his well-known hoop, but 

 one summer evening I was amused with watching and listening to a 



