SWAN UPPING ON THE YAEE. 91 



as a rule, tliey proved to be. Tlie whistling of the 

 captive cygnets usually led the parents to follow for a 

 time, but they soon fell behind, and later in the day 

 were seen feeding very contentedly, and apparently quite 

 resigned to their loss ; old couples, possibly, having a 

 dim recollection of similar bereavements. On Rockland 

 Broad, owing to the extent of water and the shelter 

 of the large reed beds, the " stowing up " process was 

 much more difficult, and nearly the whole morning was 

 spent in pursuit of some two or three families. In one 

 case, by a little quiet manoeuvring, the old swans were 

 induced to lead their young into a short dyke, on one 

 side of the broad, where they were soon landed, but 

 another old pair, perhaps cunning by experience and too 

 closely pressed at first, drew their cygnets away into 

 the thickest part of the reeds, where, one by one, they 

 lay up by themselves, and the parents, having accom- 

 plished this clever ruse, passed out alone into the open 

 water. Nearly two hours had been lost in this fruitless 

 chase, and, after all, these cygnets had to be left 

 until the second day, as we were told they would 

 not quit their hiding places till summoned by the 

 old swans, when all danger of pursuit seemed over. 

 It is from such causes and from such localities that 

 cygnets at times escape altogether, and, being un- 

 pinioned, take flight in winter during severe weather, 

 and are shot as strangers on other inland waters, or 

 occasionally even on the coast. The cygnets as soon as 

 they are taken up have their legs and feet turned 

 over their backs and tied with soft strips of list ; they 

 are then laid at the bottom of the boats on their breasts, 

 and on hot days should always have wet reeds or rushes 

 to lie upon, as otherwise the heat of the sun and the 

 privation of water for a long period is very exhausting. 

 Indeed, considering the number of hom-s that elapse 

 between the first " take" in the morning and the arrival 

 N 2 



