THE WILD SWAN, 9 



Dublin, were completely at a loss to know where the black down 

 and such beautiful white down could be obtained." 



A flock of twenty-seven wild swans was seen some years ago on 

 Lougli Conn, county Mayo, by Mr. B. Ball, who could not pre- 

 vail on any of the fowlers of the district to shoot one, on account 

 of a local superstition. A story is told there, and currently be- 

 lieved among the peasantry, of something direful that happened 

 to a man who had shot a wild swan. 



We might expect these birds to be plentiful amid the wilds of 

 Connaught ; but on some of the small inland lakes of tlie north- 

 east of the island also — particularly in Down — they are frequently 

 observed, and they remain on them for some time dm-ing tlie 

 winter of several successive years. They frequent Lough Orau 

 in that county, distant about four miles from Newry, where, in 

 1844, they made their first appearance on the 26th of January."^ 

 (3ne which was wounded remained during two or three summers 

 on tlie lake, but eventually recovered so as to join its companions 

 on their northern flight. The words of ' Alastor ' might have 

 been applied to this poor bird, which, 



" With strong wings 

 Scaling tlie upward sky, bent its bright course 

 High over the immeasurable main. 

 His eyes pursued its flight ! — ' Thou hast a home 

 Beautiful bii'd — thou voyagest to thine home. 

 Where thy sweet mate will twine her downy neck 

 W'ith thine, and welcome thy return with eyes 

 Bright in the lustre of their own fond joy !' " — Shelley. 

 Lough Achery in Down — a narrow river-like lake about a mile 

 in length — is often visited by these swans. Four of a grey colour 

 frequented it for a considerable part of the winter of 1844-45, and 

 until spring. Tliey were several times fired at from the shore, 

 but none were killed. When shot at, they merely swam farther 

 out, and did not leave the lake. They were not pursued in boats. 

 Li the winter of 1847-48 again, wild swans w^ere there. On 

 Lough Clay, near Killileagh, Down, a flock of six alighted in the 

 first week of February 1848, and one of them was killed. 



* Rev. Geo. Ilobinson. 



