THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
erythropus — the lesser white -fronted goose, the only specimen of which 
ever killed in these islands, was shot by my late brother, Alfred Crawhall 
Chapman, in Northumberland, September 16, 1886, and which is now in 
my possession.* 
These big geese are frequently to be seen passing overhead in V-shaped 
skeins, and always high in air. On the wing, their species cannot be 
identified, whether by wildfowler or skilled ornithologist — there are not 
many who could name them when in hand. 
In “ Bird-life of the Borders,” and “ Unexplored Spain,” the haunts 
and habits of the greylag are fully described. 
Since there are but two species of Wild Swan available to the gunner, 
while their huge size (the biggest of British birds) and aggressive colour 
can leave no doubt as to their identity, it is needless to give detailed 
instructions in distinguishing them. In clear daylight, swans are visible 
at two miles, and often more. But on dull days it is surprisingly easy 
to overlook them while, with the light behind (like all white -plumaged 
birds), they show darker than less conspicuously coloured species- 
say grey geese. Owing to their feeding in creeks and hollows of the 
mudflats, they are apt to remain unseen till the inflowing tide sets them 
afloat. 
To distinguish the wild swans— whether the Whooper or the much smaller 
Bewick’s swan, from the tame species (which in hard frosts may be 
driven to the coast, though personally I never met with them) is easy, 
with a good spy -glass, up to several hundred yards. The bright yellow 
beak running in pronounced slope far up the forehead — giving the wild 
swan’s head a marked triangular appearance— contrasts unmistakably 
with the big black frontal knob on the mute, or tame swan. Moreover, 
the clear-toned resonant note, ‘‘ hoop -hoop ” when uttered is an infallible 
index. 
The following table shows the normal autumn and winter distribution 
of wildfowl according to their natural predilection. It will be understood 
that abnormal conditions, such as excessive disturbance or extreme frost, 
may drive inland fowl to the tide. But should the frost last beyond a few 
* Since the acquisition of this specimen was recorded {Zoologist, 1887, p. 14, and The Art of Wildfowling, p. 152) a few 
others have been obtained. One in Somersetshire {Zool. 1888, p. 227), another near King’s Lynn, in Jan. 1900 {Brit. 
Orn. Club, Oct. 23, 1901, Zool. 1902, p. 85, and Trans. Norf. Nat. Soc. vii, 740). A lesser white-fronted goose in the 
collection of the late Sir H. Boynton, was said to have been killed in Yorkshire (Nelson, Birds of Yorkshire, ii, p. 413.). 
—Ed. 
420 
