‘REMARKS ON BEWICK’S SWAN. 155 
orvithologists could not be deceived with regard to 
the genus to which they belonged. 
That these birds were not Hoopers may be safely 
inferred from their great inferiority in point of size. 
Now the circumstance of the small Swans associating 
together in large numbers, unaccompanied by Hoopers 
(the only British species with which they could be 
confounded by naturalists), and the difference pointed 
out by Mr. Yarrell in their internal structure are 
facts which completely establish their specific di- 
stinctness. 
I am informed that when the Wild Swans were 
shot at near Middleton, on the 10th of December, 
1829, one of them was so reluctant to abandon the 
bird which was wounded on that occasion, that it 
continued to fly about the spot for several hours 
after the rest of the flock had departed, and that 
during the whole of this period its mournful cry was 
heard almost incessantly. In consequence of the pro- 
tracted disturbance caused by the persevering efforts 
of Messrs. Burton’s workmen to secure its unfor- 
tunate companion, it was at last compelled to with- 
draw, and was not seen again till the 23rd of 
March, when a Swan, supposed to be the same indi- 
vidual, made its appearance in the neighbourhood, 
flew several times round the reservoir in lofty circles, 
and ultimately descended to the wounded bird, with 
which, after a cordial greeting, it immediately paired. 
The newly arrived Swan, which proved to be a male 
