Shooting of Cygnus Bewickii. By Thomas Anderson. 385 



frost, the wind being from the same quarter during all that time. 

 These conditions are interesting, because they would serve to 

 indicate that the birds had been driven from their ordinary 

 habitat by severe weather, and flown before it farther south than 

 they are usually met with 



The birds were five in number, and were upon the Upper 

 Shaws loch where they were observed for the first time on Sun- 

 day the 26th. Here they had remained since that date, and 

 although frequently disturbed by shepherds and others pass- 

 ing, and notwithstanding their shy and watchful habits, they 

 showed no desire to leave. Whether this was owing to fatigue 

 after a long flight, or to their having found their new quarters 

 suitable to their habits and requirements, could not be deter- 

 mined. The loch is a small circular one about i of a mile across, 

 with a muddy bottom, and fringed with reeds and aquatic plants, 

 and shallow to some distance out ; altogether a favourable feed- 

 ing ground for birds of the habits and conformation of the Swan. 



When we first sighted the loch from behind an eminence 300 

 to 400 yards off, three of the birds were seen feeding among the 

 weeds some distance apart, and on our appearing they immedi- 

 ately came together and were joined by the other two, which 

 had been a short way up the inlet above its mouth, and com- 

 menced swimming round the edge of the loch at the side farthest 

 opposite to where we were standing. On our approaching, the 

 Swans went into the centre of the loch, and were swimming 

 round in a small circle with their necks and heads erect and bill 

 carried high in the air, and occasionally uttering a note of alarm. 

 They kept sailing majestically round in the very centre far out of 

 shot. At last a shot was fired, and immediately the long necks 

 were stretched out, the great wings unfolded, and flight com- 

 menced, first very heavy and laboured as the great birds seemed 

 to run upon the surface of the water flapping it with slow strokes 

 that resounded loud in the clear frosty air. There was, fortun- 

 ately for our object, no wind at the time, and the birds in their 

 difficulty in rising had to come close to the edge before they had 

 attained sufficient elevation to settle down into a regular flight. 

 They came right over two guns and one fell, while another 

 lagged so far behind the remaining three as to indicate that 

 he was wounded. The first bird was recovered by a retriever, 

 and the second bird was found on the Lower Shaws loch about 

 f of a mile away, which it was unable to leave, although it 



