196 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cwap. xxrv. 
degrees become perfectly domiciled during the whole year in some 
of the large marshes and lakes of Scotland or Ireland, where 
proper food and feeding-places could always be found by them. At 
present they visit us generally about the middle of October. On 
their first arrival in Findhorn Bay they are sometimes in immense 
flocks. Last year I saw a flock of between two and three hun- 
dred resting on the sands. After remaining quiet till towards 
evening, they broke off into different smaller companies, of from 
twenty to three or four birds in each, and dispersed in different 
directions, all of them, however, inclining southwards. 
They probably return year after year to the same district of 
country, taking with them either their own broods of the season 
or any others that are inclined to join them. In the large flock 
that I mentioned having seen last year, I could not distinguish 
a single young bird. The cygnets of the wild swan, like those 
of the tame one, are during the first season of a greyish white, 
and are easily distinguished amongst the dazzling white plumage 
of the old birds. When swans frequent any loch near the sea, 
or any chain of fresh water lakes, if they are disturbed and fly 
either to the sea or to some adjoining piece of water, ney keep 
always about the same line. When once you have taken notice 
of the exact line of their flight, it is easy to get shots by sending 
a person to put them up when seen feeding, having previously 
concealed yourself in the direction of their course. 
It is useless shooting at them when coming towards you, and 
the best chance of killing them is either to allow them to pass 
before you fire, or, just as they are over your head, by jumping 
up and showing yourself, you may make them turn off to the 
right and left, in this way affording a fair chance to your shot, 
which easily penetrates them when flying straight away. 
When in the water, a wild swan is not easy to kill, unless hit 
in the head or neck, as they swim very flat and low, and their 
feathers sit so close that shot will scarcely penetrate unless you 
can fire from above the birds. 
I once winged a wild swan, who fell into a large and deep 
loch. The rest of the birds flew away towards another piece of 
water about a mile off. I had no retriever with me, but profiting 
by the advice of my keeper, instead of attempting to get at the 
bird in any way, I took a circuit, keeping myself concealed, 
