GREAT EXECUTION. 439 



" Another method of hunting swans," we learn from the 

 same authority, " is much more advantageous than the one 

 mentioned, but can seldom be resorted to, because it is 

 absolutely needful the first frost should set in with calm 

 weather, so that the water is only covered with a thin crust 

 of ice. When this is the case, the birds are accustomed to 

 crowd together in close masses, thereby to keep the water 

 around them open, which they effect by constantly swim- 

 ming backwards and forwards in all directions. This is a 

 hint to those who reside on the shore of the lake, to arrange 

 a regular hunt. Several punts, properly manned, are with 

 facility forced through the thin ice to the spot where the 

 swans are congregated. The birds, so soon as they see the 

 approach of the enemy, press commonly into a corner, from 

 whence they seek to take wing ; but it is too late, for the 

 reason, as one knows, that swans when about to fly are first 

 obliged as well to run on the surface of the water, as to 

 strike it with their wings, that they may get the air under 

 them ; for now having, instead of water beneath them, only 

 ice before them, which breaks at every blow of their pinions, 

 this cannot be effected ; so that, after many fruitless en- 

 deavours, they at length lie helpless amongst the fragments 

 of ice. When all the birds are in this manner set fast as 

 it were, the fowlers must so manoeuvre the punts, that the 

 swans be surrounded and driven together into the centre 

 of the opening. Should this precaution be neglected, and 

 the attack proceed from only one quarter, they will force 

 their way through the ice in an opposite direction to that 

 of the punts, until they reach the shore, and once on terra 

 firma, they immediately take wing. When fairly hemmed 

 in, they are knocked on the head with sticks. It often 



