14 WILD SWANS 



spotless white. Of course I had left my field-glasses 

 behind ; whenever I do so something of special interest 

 is sure to present itself ; but I ran back to the house 

 for them and returned in time to inspect the visitors 

 before dusk. 



I had on former occasions and on other waters 

 watched small companies of whoopers — three, four, or 

 five together — but never such a noble crowd as this. 

 The swans seemed to have had a long flight, for half 

 of them tucked back their heads and went to sleep 

 immediately. Not far off were half a dozen mute 

 swans — permanent, but unpinioned residents on the 

 loch. One should have expected them to display some 

 emotion, were it only curiosity, on the arrival of so 

 distinguished a company. Not a bit of it. They went 

 on feeding subaqueously, turning themselves upside 

 down after the manner of their kind, and paid no 

 more attention to the travellers than if they had been 

 a flock of mill-pond geese. 



During the night these glorious visitors were joined 

 by four others of their kind, but before midday they all 

 took their departure. I could not get them to write 

 their names in our visitors' book, but 1 inscribed them 

 as a notable addition to the list of water-fowl that have 

 taken advantage of our sanctuary during my time. 

 Hitherto, though wild swans had been reported on the 

 loch many years before, I never had the luck to view 

 them myself. The list of water-fowl identified as 

 resident or visitant now stands as follows : 



Whooper Shoveller Pochard 



Mallard Wigeon Scaup 



