258 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



first one, and then another, gracefully reclined at ease, floating idly 

 on the water, and burying their long and supple necks in the 

 dense feathering of their dorsal plumage, while on either side their 

 two companions kept vigilant watch with necks uplifted, and 

 intent to detect any signs of renewed danger. It was noontide, 

 and the winter sun shone out upon the still waters of the lough ; 

 before us, on the further margin of the bank of sedge, floated 

 the strange voyageurs ; behind the birds was a tiny sea of glitter- 

 ing waters, against which the forms of these beautiful strangers 

 looked dark by force of contrast. Only when we showed our- 

 selves more openly did the Whoopers forego their attitude of 

 disengaged ease ; hitherto they had contented themselves with 

 occasionally uttering their trumpet-call, but now a bird ' hooped' 

 and again they crossed the sedge, this time in a fresh direction. 

 So strongly matted together was the aquatic vegetation, at least 

 in one place, that, instead of swimming through it, the swans 

 lifted their legs over the submerged plants which barred their 

 progress ; they swayed their bodies heavily as they crossed the 

 barrier and regained an open track through the sedge. All at 

 once the leader sounded his bugle-call, slightly throwing up the 

 head when expelling the sound. A second bird passed, and the 

 leader fell back in the file, but continued to sound his musical 

 refrain at intervals. On the following day I introduced Mr. F. 

 P. Johnson to these Swans, which on seeing us sounded the 

 bugle-call for retreat, and leaving the bed of sedge in which they 

 were browsing, paddled with stiffly-held necks towards the other 

 side. There at first they maintained an attitude of watchfulness, 

 but their feeling of uneasiness gradually wore off ; presently two 

 of them lazily twined their long necks across their backs, their 

 companions alone maintaining a careful outlook. Having secured 

 a good position, we could minutely scrutinise their yellow and 

 black bills, and even their eyes, through a very powerful field- 

 glass ; sometimes the sentinels flapped their great snowy pinions, 

 but not with any intention of deserting us. We found it diffi- 

 cult to describe their ' clang ' on paper. When we showed our- 

 selves we heard distinctly, * hoop — hooper — hoop ' ; then came a 

 1 clang ' followed by another ' hoop.' When a bird hoops the 

 neck is stiffened ; this exercise is generally followed by a slight 



