BKWICK S SWAN. 
235 
BEWICK’S SWAX. 
Cygnus minor. 
While not so common as the larger species, Bewick’s Swan 
visits Shetland regularly every autumn and spring. In tlie 
former season it is occasionally seen in company with the 
Hooper ; but, retiring northwards some weeks earlier, as a 
rule, those which appear in February and early in March are 
in unmixed flocks of their own kind. It is easily approached, 
and its flesh is acknowledged to be far superior in flavour to 
that of the Hooper ; but its inferior size and weight cause it to 
be less valued by the inhabitants, who, being seldom able to 
procure fresh food, naturally prefer quantity to quality. It 
seems to be more partial to the sea than the other species ; and 
often during a severe gale, when one might suppose that the 
shelter of the lochs would be eagerly sought, a small flock may 
be seen upon one of the voes, or the open bays, quietly float- 
ing upon the waves, facing the wind, and apparently determined 
to ride out the storm. They sometimes arrive very tired in 
rough weather, strong though they are of wing. In February 
1861, after a very heavy southerly gale, a flock alighted at 
Haroldswick in such a state of exhaustion that when one of the 
birds was shot the others merely walked a little further into 
the shallow water of the loch. A second was killed by the 
device of driving a pony towards the water and creeping along 
on one side of it. The flock then took wing and proceeded on 
its journey northwards ; not so much impressed perhaps with 
Shetland hospitality as some other visitors have been, however 
gladly they may have been welcomed to the larder. 
In all recent specimens that I have seen the tarsi and feet 
were tinged with olive brown. 
