THE BLACK SWAN. | 255 
in a hut constructed of branches of trees and heaps of snow, at 
short range easily shoot them. 
The flesh of the Swan is very indifferent in flavour. Our fore- 
fathers ate it, but merely from ostentation, for it was only served up 
on the tables of the greatest nobles. At the present day, the city of 
Norwich has a preserve for Swans, which are only eaten at the muni- 
cipal feasts, or sent as presents to distinguished individuals. In these 
cases, the birds being young, and tenderly fed, are by no means 
Fig. 94.—Black Swans. 
a dish to be despised, if properly cooked. The inhabitants of the 
frozen regions of the extreme north, even with their imperfect system 
of cuisine, do not entirely disdain it ; but the cause for this is appa- 
rently something analogous to the philosophical saying, “ as there 
are no thrushes, we eat blackbirds.” 
The river Thames is remarkable for the number of Swans which 
live on it. The greater quantity of them belong to the Queen ; the’ 
others chiefly to the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Companies of the City of 
London, but we never heard that these feast their guests on the 
noble birds. Deputations from the Companies make an annual visit 
to their preserves, called swan-hopping, or capering—that is, catching 
the cygnets, and marking them in the presence of the royal swanherd 
