64 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS, 



ORDER V.NATATORES. 

 Family ANATID^E. 



MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor). A royal bird is the 

 Swan and so it has been considered for many 

 years. The Kings of England used to have Swan- 

 herds (Magister deductus cygnorum], to take care 

 that no harm should happen to the Thames Swans, 

 and even a Mute Swan cannot be shot in these days 

 without incurring a heavy penalty. 



Eton College has long had the privilege of keeping 

 Swans upon the river Thames. Yarrell says the 

 College ' Swan-mark ' (the mark stamped or cut on 

 their bills) represents the armed point and the 

 feathered head of an arrow, and the following repre- 

 sentation is taken from a design cut on the door 

 of one of the inner rooms of the College. 



All along the river the Swans may be seen 

 disporting themselves with their young cygnets, which 



