216 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 



battle with all comers, great or small. It is not neces- 

 sary to make any burglarious attempts to be entitled to 

 be considered an enemy ; the wayfarer may pass along 

 near if he go on his way like a peaceable person ; but if 

 he stand to look, the jealous husband's ire is immediately 

 aroused, his wings are raised, the feathers of his neck 

 are erected until it becomes double the usual thickness, 

 and instead of his ordinary quiet gliding motion, he pro- 

 pels himself by violent strokes at long intervals. The 

 observer had better beat a retreat now, for if he delay 

 another minute, the bird will fly out of the water at 

 him, and a stroke from his wing is no joke. I confess 

 that I have often ignominiously run away under such 

 circumstances, when from motives of curiosity I have 

 tried his patience too long ; and I was even once 

 attacked when on horseback. 



The nest on the island I have mentioned was only a 

 few yards from the bank of the river, along which per- 

 sons were constantly passing, and so frequent were the 

 attacks of the male bird that three hurdles drawn with 

 boughs had to be placed as a screen as soon as the female 

 began her nest ; and this protection seemed to be fully 

 appreciated by both birds. 



Some years ago, one of the younger members of the 

 family at Thoresby wished to obtain a swan's egg, and 

 an old man whom I knew well, and who was a labourer 

 in the grounds, was commissioned to procure one. A 

 nest at the foot of a tree, in the pleasure grounds, con- 

 tained several eggs, and old Thomas watched his oppor- 

 tunity, when the female was absent, to accomplish his 

 ta,sk. Taking his garden rake in his hand he was about 

 to secure his prize, when he was suddenly attacked by 

 'the female, who had seen his approach, and who at once 



