192 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cuap. xxrv, 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
Migration of Birds in October—Wild Swans: Pursuit of; Manner of 
getting a Shot; Two killed—Habits of Wild Swan. 
October 1st.—TuERE is no month more interesting, or productive 
of more amusement, both to the naturalist and the sportsman, than 
this—many new birds now appear, on their route from their more 
northern breeding-places, wending their weary way to the south- 
ern shores of the kingdom, where vast numbers fall victims to 
the guns which are brought to bear upon them—some for plea- 
sure and some for profit. 
Most migratory birds take advantage of the moonlight to help 
them on their journey; for example, woodcocks, snipes, field- 
fares, &c., generally arrive in this country during the lightest 
nights in October and November. The water-fowl seem more 
independent of the moon, and to be chiefly guided in their arrival 
by the weather. 
October 6th.—To-day we saw in the bay as many as fifty or 
sixty wild swans, evidently just arrived ; we went home for swan- 
shot, Eley’s cartridges, and other munitions of war, but by the 
time we had got all in readiness to open a campaign on the fleet 
of snow-white birds, they all took flight. After sailing two or 
three times round the bay, and after an amazing deal of trum- 
peting and noise, they divided into separate parties, and flew 
off, some to the east, and some to the west, towards their differ- 
ent winter-quarters. 
October ‘7th.—My old garde-chasse insisted on my starting 
early this morning, olens volens, to certain lochs six or seven 
miles off, in order, as he termed it, to take our “satisfaction” of 
the swans. I must say that it was a matter of very small satis- 
faction to me, the tramping off in a sleety, rainy morning, 
through a most forlorn and hopeless-fooxing country, for the 
chance, and that a bad one, of killing a wild swan or two. How- 
ever, after a weary walk, we arrived at these desolate-looking 
