234 
ANATID/E. 
remarked that tins never had the effect of causing the flock to 
alio'ht. 
O 
During its period of captivity it had more than one narrow 
escape. Once it was observed to hasten towards the cottage, 
and then suddenly fall struggling uj^on the ground. It was soon 
disco\'ered to be completely gagged, and nearly choked, by a 
large piece of a root. Upon another occasion it was found 
gasping and almost insensible in the corn-yard, In great 
affliction, its friends laid it upon some straw in its favourite 
corner of the byre, and there left it, as they thought, to die. 
Soon afterwards, however, it was observed quietly performing 
its toilet in the burn. 
After about two years, it had become so tame that its wing 
feathers were permitted to grow ; — a sad mistake, for one even- 
ing in spring, at which time the flocks were returning north- 
wards, it disappeared, and was never seen more. At the 
conclusion of these particulars it was mentioned as a remark- 
able fact, that only the day previous to the Swan’s disappear- 
ance a visitor had, while looking at it, strongly urged its 
owner to send it south, where he would be sure to receive a 
handsome price for it. On my asking my informant whetluu' 
she seriously believed that the bird’s departure was owing to 
its having heard what had passed, she merely shook her head 
and replied, “Weel, no just that ; but wha can tell ? It was 
odious sing’lar, at onyrate.” 
Some further particulars have probably escaped my memory, 
in consequence of my unwillingness to note them down at the 
time. An attempt to do so would have led to immediate silence, 
the Shetlanders having a gi’eat dislike to their words being trans- 
ferred to writing, — possibly on account of the disagreeable 
recollections which it calls up of former visits of the procurator- 
fiscal to the neighbouiliood, when investigating criminal cases. 
