MUTE SWAN. 61 



Waveney on its southern boundary, have many pairs 

 upon their tortuous streams, representing the " swan 

 rights" of adjacent properties, still the "Broad" district 

 must be regarded as the chief nursery of our Norfolk 

 swans, and the Yare, within the Corporate boundaries 

 of this city, the swannery of the Eastern Counties. 

 Scarcely a broad, throughout the winding course of the 

 Bure and its tributaries from Belaugh to Breydon 

 (although the number kept on that river is far less than 

 in former years), is wanting in that greatest ornament 

 to those reed-locked waters — 



" The stately sailing swan, 

 "Who gives his snowy plumage to the gale, 

 And aix;hing proud his neck, with oary feet, 

 Bears forward fierce, and guards his osier isle, 

 Protective of his young." 



Both on the Wensum and the Yare, above Norwich, 

 many private owners supply their tables from the cygnets, 

 reared amongst the carrs, reed-beds, and rushy islets 

 of the two rivers ; but it is upon the Yare, below this 

 city, from its junction with the Wensum, at Trowse 

 Eye, to Hardley Cross,'^ near Eeedham (the ancient 



* This ancient boundary mark is situated on the right bank of 

 the river Yare, at a point where the Chet — a small stream which, 

 under the " Chet Yalley improvement Act," is being widened for 

 wherry traflBc to Loddon, some three miles and a half— empties itself 

 into the JSTorwich river. The Cross, which has of late years been 

 re-erected upon a new basement, dates back to the year 1543, when, 

 according to Blomefield, the Norfolk historian ("Hist. Norwich," 

 8vo., vol. i., p. 214), " There was a new cross, with a crucifix carved 

 on one side, and the city arms on the other, painted and carried 

 to Hardley, and there set up in presence of the sheriffs, in the place 

 where " the shrevys of Norwyche yerely do kepe a court." This 

 custom still continues, since on or about the 23rd of August in each 

 year, the Chah'man of the Tonnage Committee, with the Mayor, 

 Sheriff, and other members of the Norwich Corporation, usually 

 accompanied by the Maj-ors of Yarmouth and Beccles, and the 

 Haven and Pier Commissioners, proceed by steamboat from the 



