446 GREAT CHASSE. 



lation, and the consequent greater degree of order kept by 

 the boats, the birds were for the most part driven on shore, 

 and very few, comparatively speaking, succeeded in making 

 good their retreat. But as at the present day people are 

 allowed, or at least take the liberty, to fire at the birds 

 prior to their breaking the line, and every one is anxious 

 to have his shot, the boats too often leave their proper 

 stations, and great numbers of birds are thereby enabled to 

 escape. All order, in short, is soon lost, and the swans 

 being dispersed in every direction, a general scramble ensues, 

 each boat selecting and chasing the bird or birds that may 

 be nearest ; and the scene, in consequence, though one of 

 great confusion, becomes most animated. 



Were the swans on these occasions to resort to swimming 

 alone, a light boat with an efficient crew would soon come 

 up with them ; but when they find themselves hard pressed, 

 they put both wings and legs into requisition, and thus half- 

 paddling, half-flying along the surface of the water, they at 

 first have the advantage of their pursuers. But this violent 

 exertion cannot last for ever, and after a while they again 

 drop into the sea ; and though they may make two or three 

 similar efforts, they gradually become exhausted, and are at 

 length fairly run down. Those birds that have the most feathers 

 of course hold out the longest ; and indeed it often happens 

 that after a continued and wearisome chase, they succeed in 

 distancing their pursuers altogether. It is the commonly 

 received notion that swans do not dive ; but instances to the 

 contrary are on record at these hunts, though it has only 

 occurred, it is believed, when the bird has been previously 

 wounded. 



If there is a gunner in the boat when the swan is over- 



