MUTE SWAN. 85 



majority of these birds are congregated with their cygnets 

 throughout the summer, either on the Broads themselves, 

 or that part of the main stream which lies between the 

 Surlingham and Buckenham Ferries, a far narrower limit 

 of space, within which, owing to the shallowness of the 

 Broads and their connecting channels, a taste for fish 

 spawn can be abundantly gratified. If the over-yeared 

 birds, also, which remain on the river, though not paired 

 for the season, still retain a taste for spawn-diet, a school 

 of from twelve to fourteen young swans, such as I have 

 before referred to at Coldham Hall, with no other occu- 

 pation throughout the summer months than that of 

 seeking the choicest feeding grounds, would unques- 

 tionably be " all there" when the spawn is thickest in 

 the dykes ; a question not unworthy the consideration 

 of our Angler's Society, though it is difiicult to suggest 

 a remedy, for if these swans were removed to any 

 other part of the stream during the spavming season, 

 they would be sure to find their way back. 



One other charge I have heard made against the tame 

 swan, which affects the sportsman only, is that of disturb- 

 ing wild fowl on the same waters, but this, I think, is 

 not " proven" to any appreciable extent. Occasionally a 

 swan may be seen to peck at and chase a duck that 

 may have approached too near in the act of feeding, but 

 in severe winters, when the Broads and other shallow 

 waters are covered with ice, the " wake " kept open by 

 the constant paddling of the swans is a great attraction 

 to the fowl, and not less so the food which in such hard 

 times is supplied by the marshmen to the swans under 



leet of the East, West, and North fens, with their members, held at 

 Kevesby, 19th of October, 1780," to the effect that " no person shall 

 bring up or take any swan's eggs or crane's [heron's ?] eggs or young 

 birds of that kind, on pain of forfeiting for every offence three 

 shillings and fourpence." 



