216 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
battle with all comers, great or small. It is not neces- 
sary to make any burglarious attempts to be entitled to 
be considered an enemy ; the wayfarer may pass along 
near if he go on his way like a peaceable person ; but if 
he stand to look,the jealous husband’s ire is immediately 
aroused, his wings are raised, the feathers of his neck 
are erected until it becomes double the usual thickness, 
and instead of his ordinary quiet gliding motion, he pro- 
pels himself by violent strekes at long intervals. The 
observer had better beat a retreat now, for if he delay 
another minute, the bird will fly out of the water at 
him, and a stroke from his wing is no joke. I confess 
that I have often ignominiously run away under such 
circumstances, when from motives of curiosity I have 
tried his patience too long; and I was even once 
attacked when on horseback. 
The nest on the island I have mentioned was only a 
few yards from the bank of the river, along which per- 
sons were constantly passing, and so frequent were the 
attacks of the male bird that three hurdles drawn with 
boughs had to be placed as a screen as soon as the female 
began her nest ; and this protection seemed to be fully 
appreciated by both birds. 
Some years ago, one of the younger members of the 
family at Thoresby wished to obtain a swan’s egg, and 
an old man whom I knew well, and who was a labourer 
in the grounds, was commissioned to procure one. A 
nest at the foot of a tree, in the pleasure grounds, con- 
tained several eggs, and old Thomas watched his oppor- 
tunity, when the female was absent, to accomplish his 
task. Taking his garden rake in his hand he was about 
to secure his prize, when he was suddenly attacked by 
the female, who had seen his approach, and who at once 
