8 
ANATIM. 
Bannagher and the Upper Shannon ; * they have been fre- 
quently shot near Cashel, and have appeared in severe winters on 
the Bog of Allen and in Bantry Bay.*}* 
Mr. G. Jackson, gamekeeper to the Earl of Bantry, at Glen- 
gariff, Bantry Bay, wrote to me thence, in 1849, in reference to 
Cygnus ferus and C. Bewickii. His description of size, markings 
of the bill, &c., shows that both species were obtained by him. 
He often saw grey immature birds. His statement is as follows : — 
“ I never saw any Wild Swans in this part of the country ; 
but in all the counties of Connaught they are plentiful in the 
winter season, generally arriving about the beginning of December 
and leaving at the latter end of Eebruary. They appear in flocks 
of from two to a dozen in number. — I do not recollect ever hav- 
ing seen more than twelve together. On January the 28th, 1836, 
I shot five out of a flock of seven with a rifle and ball at five con- 
secutive shots, on a large sheet of water, the overflowing of the 
river, at a place called Bridgogue, between Erenchpark and Boyle. 
I was concealed behind a rick of turf on the first being shot ; the 
others did not rise, but swam round him with outstretched 
necks, as if in amazement, which the survivors, gradually 
diminishing in number, continued to do, although shot after 
shot was fired at them and one killed at each discharge. 
They never attempted to take flight until a dog belonging to a 
countryman ran and took the water, when the two remaining 
birds rose on wing and fled. I never killed more than one at a 
shot, but have on different occasions, when waiting for duck, &c., 
at flight-time, procured two out of a flock with the double gun, 
right and left. When flying with the wind their velocity is 
astonishing. I used to pay as much attention to getting them as 
my time would allow, as their down was beautiful, and the 
females of my family made pelerines, boas, &c., of it, and the 
black or darker feathers of the wild goose interspersed fancifully 
in rings, spots, &c., alternately. These sold at a very high price, 
and were well worth their attention. The dressmakers, even of 
* Rev. T. Knox 
f Mr. R. Davis, jun. 
