FOOT (F. J.) ON SWANS IN KOSCOMMON AND GALWAY. 109 



The following paper was then read : — 



On Flights of Swans seen in the Counties of Roscommon and 

 Galway, DtrEiNG the Winter of 1863-64. By F. J. Foot, M. A., 

 F. R. G. S. I., Corresponding Member. 



The River Suck has always been a favourite resort for Swans during 

 severe weather, as also are some of the small loughs, particularly 

 Lough Funshinagh, in the county of Roscommon. This winter con- 

 siderable numbers of Swans have been observed at different times, and 

 in different places, in the neighbourhood of the Suck and Shannon, in 

 the counties of Roscommon and Galway. 



I give the following observations made by myself and others : — On 

 January 20, north of Woodlawn, I observed a small flock of five Swans 

 flying very high, in a direction of south by east, or so, uttering occasion- 

 ally a low dismal cry. They were too far from me to note their species. 

 The day was cold and showery. February 22. I saw a party of nine 

 feeding on the banks of the Suck, a little below the town of Ballinasloe. 

 There was a severe frost at the time. They were about one-third of a 

 mile from where I stood. I could see by the aid of of a telescope that 

 they were not the tame or mute Swan {Cygnus olor), as they had not 

 the black knob or orange bill ; but I could not distinguish whether 

 they were C. ferus, or C. Bewickii ; some of them (I forget now the 

 number), I could see were young ones by the grey plumage. Feb. 26. 

 In the morning, a little north of the town of Ballinasloe, I saw five 

 Swans flying high in a direction about south-east. I cannot say what was 

 the species. The day was very calm and bright, with a hard frost. On 

 the evening of the same day I saw nine flying high in the same direc- 

 tion, or, perhaps, with a little more of east — species also undetermined. 

 March 25 and 26, a small flock of four Swans was seen feeding on the 

 banks of the River Suck, a little below the town of Ballinasloe. On 

 these two days the weather was very rough and cold, but we had se- 

 veral fine days before them. 



I have obtained the following information from Captain Ingham, 

 now quartered in Athlone, and an indefatigable sportsman. I had 

 been informed that on one of his duck shooting excursions he had been 

 so fortunate as to shoot six Swans in one shot. I wrote to him, asking 

 him to what species they belonged, and his reply is so interesting that I 

 venture to quote it : — 



"■Athlone, March 24, 1864. 



" Dear Sib, — I shall be most happy to give you any information 

 in my power about the Swans, or any other sort of wild fowl ; and I 

 only regret that I did not hear from you earlier, as I could have got 

 you a specimen almost any day ; but I never shot at the Swans except 

 on the occasion you refer to, and once afterwards, when I got four. 

 Both times I only did it ' out of spite,' as they had been spoiling my 

 shots at widgeon all the day. When I got the six it was quite dark, 

 and I only shot by the sound. They were on very shallow water, evi- 



