CYGNET. 



125 



wing-, was turned amongst some aquatic birds, and was at first so ex- 

 tremely shy, that he was obliged to be crammed with meat for a day or 

 two, when he began to eat worms ; but as this was precarious food, he 

 was tempted to eat bread and milk like the ruffs. To induce this sub- 

 stitution, worms were put into a mess of bread mixed with milk, and it 

 was curious to observe how cautiously he avoided the mixture, by 

 carrying every worm to the pond, and well washing it previously to 

 swallowing. In the course of a few days this new diet did not appear 

 unpalatable to him, and in little more than a week he became partial to 

 it, and from being exceedingly poor and emaciated, got plump and in 

 high health. 



In the course of a month or six weeks, this bird became excessively 

 tame, and would follow a person across the menagerie for a bit of 

 bread, or a small fish, of which he was remarkably fond. But he be- 

 came almost omnivorous ; fish, water-lizards, small frogs, insects of 

 every kind that were not too large to swallow, and (in defect of other 

 food) barley with the ducks was not rejected. 



This very great favourite was at last killed by a rat, (as it was sus- 

 pected,) after a short life of two years in confinement.* 



The young make use of their legs as soon as they are hatched, but 

 cannot fly for a considerable time. * I have frequently run them down 

 in the moors of Ayrshire, but when they acquire a little strength, they 

 can easily outrun a man.* 



CURSORIUS (Latham.) — * Courser, a genus thus characterised. 

 Bill shorter than the head, depressed at the base, a little vaulted at the 

 point, slightly curved, pointed; nostrils oval, surmounted by a small 

 protuberance ; legs long, slender, three toes very short, almost entirely 

 divided, the inner toe one half shorter than the middle one ; claws very 

 small ; wings of middle size, the first quill almost as long as the second, 

 which is the longest in the wing ; great wing coverts as long as the 

 quills.* 



GURWILLET.— A name for the Sanderling. 

 CUSHAT. — A name for the Ring Dove. 

 CUTHBERT.— A name for the Eider Duck, 

 CUTTY WREN.— A name for the Wren. 

 CYGNET. — -The young Swan. 



