WILD-SWAN SHOOTING. 207 



THE GRAVY. 



" To a gravy of beef, good and strong, I opine 

 You'll be right if you add half-a-pint of port-wine ; 

 Pour this through the Swan yes, quite through the belly ; 

 Then serve the whole up with some hot currant-jelly. 

 " N.B. The swan must not be skinned." 



There is an ancient privilege granted by the Crown, of allowing 

 certain individuals and public companies the right of keeping and 

 breeding swans on public waters. In allowing such a privilege, the 

 Crown always insists on some particular mark being specified and 

 used, by which the birds are marked and known. 



The swan-mark (cigninota) is either sT>me letter, initials, chevron, 

 annulet, crescent, or device, or more frequently some crest or arms 

 having- reference to that used by the party to whom the grant is 

 made.* The swan-marks are cut on the upper mandible of the 

 swan, by means of a small, sharp instrument used for the purpose ; 

 and, in some instances, a hot brand is used instead. 



The officer anciently employed by the King as swan-herdsman was 

 called magister deductus cignorum. 



The Dyers' and Vintners' Companies of the City of London have 

 long enjoyed the privilege granted them by the Crown, of keeping, 

 breeding, and preserving swans on the Thames ; at any part of the 

 river between London and Windsor, and some miles beyond the 

 latter place : a privilege they still keep up ; and they also continue 

 the ancient custom of proceeding up the river, on a swan-voyage, 

 with their friends and visitors, accompanied by the royal swan-herds- 

 man, their own swan-herdsman, and assistants, on the first Monday 

 of August in every year. They embark at Lambeth, in one or more 

 large boats ; the object of their voyage being, to catch and mark all 

 the cygnets, the property of their respective companies, which have 

 been reared during the season ; and they also renew any marks, in 

 old birds, which may have become partially obliterated. 



There are now about 700 swans on the Thames, some of which be- 

 long to the Queen, some to the Dyers' Company, and others to the 

 Vintners'. 



* There is a very elaborate account, in the 3rd vol. of Professor Yarrell's British 

 Birds (3rd edition), as to swan-marking, swanneries, and swan-herds, to which the 

 reader is particularly referred for further information on this subject. And see also 

 " The Loseley Manuscripts ;" by A. J. Kempe, Esq. : London, 1835, 8vo. 



