SWAN UPriNG ON THE TARE. 95 



are liable to pine from the effects of such treatment, 

 and so lose rather than gain flesh for a time. It is on 

 this account that the Corporation and other cygnets 

 under Mr. Simpson's charge have only the quill feathers 

 of one wing clipped or plucked, which answers all the 

 purpose for the short period that they mostly remain in 

 the swan-pit ; but in more than one instance, I believe, 

 a cygnet has been known to escape when kept till it 

 had re-moulted its quill feathers, and, suddenly taking 

 wing, has exercised its new powers of flight over the 

 barrack-yard and the adjoining river. 



The first day's "upping" terminates generally between 

 four and five in the afternoon, at Coldham Hall, where 

 the swanherds and keepers refresh themselves before 

 conveying the cygnets to their various destinations ; the 

 Corporation birds, especially, having still a long and 

 weary journey to Norwich without food or water, their 

 legs stiff and cramped as they lie bound at the bottom 

 of the boats, writhing their long necks in fruitless rest- 

 lessness, or venting their discontent in low and plaintive 

 whistlings. 



The second day's ^^upping" comprises the cygnets 

 reared on Surlingliam Broad and the banks of the river 

 between Coldham and Thorpe, and late hatched birds, 

 too young to leave their parents in August, are " taken 

 up" later in the season, if required. For reasons, how- 

 ever, before stated, so prolific has been the supply of 

 cygnets during the last few years, within the corporate 

 boundaries, that although from one hundred to a hundred 

 and fifty young birds have been taken annually, several 

 broods have been left on the stream not required for 

 culinary purposes. Of breeding swans, on the Yare, two 

 pairs or five birds appear to be commonly allowed to 

 each right, but the Corporation has from three to four 

 pairs, which can scarcely be considered an excessive 

 number. 



