88 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



the reign of Henry the Seventh, a punishment of a 

 year's imprisonment and a fine at the king's will was 

 inflicted on persons caught stealing a Swan's egg ; and 

 taking or disturbing the birds themselves was dealt 

 with still more severely. 



The ancient privilege of keeping Swans on the Thames 

 has been conferred very sparingly. Eton College has 

 been granted this curious favour, which has only been 

 further extended to the Dyers' and Vintners' Com- 

 panies, which for centuries have been allowed to keep 

 Swans between London and Windsor. Both these com- 

 panies and the college have their own particular Swan- 

 mark. For hundreds of years the Swan has been 

 intimately associated with the Vintners' Company and 

 its privileges. The junior warden of the year is still 

 called the " Swan Warden ; " models of Swans are con- 

 spicuous ornaments in their hall ; and it is probable 

 that the hotel sign of the " Swan with two necks " was 

 derived from the Swan-mark of the company the 

 Swan with two nicks, the first proprietor of the well- 

 known house of that name having been a member of 

 this ancient guild. The Dyers and the Vintners still 

 follow the old custom of accompanying the royal Swan- 

 herd on the first Monday in August for the purpose of 

 catching and marking all the Cygnets, or young Swans, 

 and renewing any marks on the old birds that may 

 have become partially obliterated. Most of the Swans 



