THE TRUE SWANS. 
25‘ 
Swan was feeding alone, not as yet daring to associate with the 
distinguislied strangers. It was pleasant to contrast the long- 
drawn, flat bodies of the VVhoopers with the more rounded 
outline of Cj'gnus olor. The wild fellows swam together ; one 
and another arched their necks backward in a loop, dipped 
gracefully forward, and then, raising their necks, allowed the 
water to trickle over their shoulders. This was their method 
of bathing, but there was nothing violent about it. On the 
contrary the action was easy and majestic, as became such 
lordly fowl. When they caught sight of us they became meta- 
morphosed at once into a ‘ stiff-necked generation,’ and hurried 
off in line through the sedge. Reaching open water on the 
other side they became somnolent, first one, and then another, 
gracefully reclined at ease, floating idly on the water, and 
burying their long and supple necks in the dense feathering of 
their dorsal plumage, while on either side their two companions 
kept vigilant watch with necks uplifted, and intent to detect 
any signs of renewed danger. It was noontide, and the winter 
sun shone out upon the still waters of the lough before us, on 
the farther margin of the bank of sedge, floated the strange 
vovageurs, behind the birds was a tiny sea of glittering waters, 
against which the forms of these beautiful strangers looked 
dark by force of contrast. Only when we showed more openly 
did the Whoopers forego their attitude of disengaged ease ; 
hitherto they had contented themselves with occasionally 
uttering their trumpet-call, but now a bird ‘ hooped^ and again 
they crossed the sedge, this time in a fresh direction. So 
strongly matted together was the aquatic vegetation, at least in 
one place, that instead of swimming through, the Swans lifted 
their legs over the submerged plants which barred their pro- 
gress ; they swayed their bodies heavily as they crossed the 
barrier and regained an open track through the sedge. _ All at 
once the leader sounded his bugle-call, slightly tluowing up 
the head when e.xpelling the sound. A second bird passed, 
and the leader fell back in the file, but continued to sound his 
musical refrain at intervals. We found it difficult to describe 
their ‘ clang' on paper. AVhen we showed ourselves, we heard 
distinctly, ' hoop-hooper-hoop' ; then came a ‘clang’ followed 
by another ‘hoop.’ When a bird hoops, the neck is stiffened; 
this exercise is generally followed by a .slight pause.” 
