334 Shooting of Cygnus Bewickii. Qj Thomas Anderson. 



Mr Colin J. Mackenzie of Portmore, writes as follows : — 

 " There was a heronry of considerable size in some old trees on 

 the margin of Portmore Loch. The trees were blown down in 

 the gale of February 1855 ; and for some years the herons built 

 on some younger trees near at hand but eventually departed, and 

 have not returned." 



NOETHUMBEELAND HERONRIES. 



In the upland streams of Northumberland trout are very 

 plentiful, and heron food is there in plenty ; but the rivers in the 

 lower parts of the county are as a whole somewhat sluggish, and 

 fish are not so numerous. Several gentlemen have mentioned 

 that isolated nests may be found here and there ; but the follow- 

 ing are the heronries. 

 Bolam, seat of Lord Decies, 30 nests. 

 Oapheaton, seat of Sir John Swinburne, a few nests. 

 Sweethope, Sir Walter Trevelyan's. 

 Ohillingham. Large. 

 Unthank on South Tyne. About 14 nests. 

 Harbottle on the Coquet. 20 nests. 

 Felton Park. Many years ago had 17 nests. 



There is also a small heronry on Lord Eedesdale's estate on 

 Eeedwater. 



Account of Shooting of Cygnus Bewickii ; with Notes on 

 Anatomical Characteristics. By Thomas Anderson, Esq., 

 M.D., of Shaws. 



On Wednesday, Nov. 29th, when shooting over Shaws with a 

 party, we were fortunate enough to meet with Bewick's Swan, 

 and were successful in obtaining two specimens of that rare and 

 interesting bird. 



The ground was covered with snow to the depth of about 1^ 

 to 2 inches ; there had been G'^ to ^° of frost the night before ; 

 the wind was from the N.E., and the barometer was falling. 

 This condition of weather was interesting inasmuch as five days 

 afterwards, on Monday the 4th, began the great snow storm 

 which continued until it culminated in the calamitous and 

 unprecedented fall, upon Thursday the 7tL of December. It 

 will be remembered that this was followed by a week of most 

 intense frost, the thermometer at one time registering 38° F. of 



