122 NOTES TO THE 



(varying according to the wind), the gardens about Brighton are 

 full of ring-ouzels, chiff-chaffs, willow-wrens, redstarts ; on the 

 Downs are wheatears ; in the air goldfinches, greenfinches, swal- 

 lows, &c. I have stood and watched these birds early on a tine 

 morning (for birds of the above kinds do not fly in cloudy, dull 

 days), going in continuous streams down to the sea, following 

 one another as surely in the same direction as if going by a 

 mariner's compass. The Roman augurs were not quite so absurd 

 perhaps as one might at first imagine ; a great many indications 

 may be gathered from the flight of birds. Their motions appear to 

 the common observer to be guided by chance, but the ornithologist 

 knows that each bird he sees is employed on some particular 

 business, and can interpret its actions. Birds always travel by 

 night across the sea, working their way along the coast till a 

 proper wind is blowing, and flying against any light which may 

 appear on the shore. In the days of the old watchmen at 

 Brighton, small birds used frequently to fly against the lanterns 

 which they carried." As a general rule there is no time com- 

 parable to the early morning for studying the habits of wild 

 creatures. 



SWANS, p. 167. Mr. Barnwell's swan establishment is situated 

 in. the garden of St. Giles's Hospital, Norwich ; a most important 

 and noble charity founded by Walter de Suffield, Bishop of 

 Norwich (died, 1257), for the support of four chaplains to cele- 

 brate divine service, and to pray for his soul; also to be an 

 asylum for the aged, decrepit, and infirm clergy of the diocese, 

 and to support thirteen old people. 



There are several persons who have the right of pasturage of 

 swans, on the river, in the neighbourhood of Norwich, such as the 

 Bishop, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Stafford, Lord Oxford, Sir T. 

 Beauchamp, the trustees of the great hospital, and the Mayor and 

 Corporation, &c.,&c. The young cygnets are caught from the river 

 the second week in August, and, on an average, from one hundred 

 to one hundred and thirty are brought into the pond. Their food 

 consists of the best barley, cut grass, and cabbages. The barley 

 is placed in a trough which floats up and down in the water, 

 between two posts. The barley is saturated in water for about 

 twelve hours before it is given to the swans, and each swan while 

 fatting eats about one coomb, that is, half-a-quarter of barley. 

 The green meat is thrown on to the top of the water, and the 

 birds " nibble " it off. They are fat and in the best condition 

 from October to Christmas, when they are sold. After that they 

 begin to fall off, even as much as two pounds in a fortnight. 

 They do not assume their white feathers till the month of 



