194 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



birds as gently as possible in catching them and tying 

 their legs, but in nicking the bills. The incisions 

 made on the upper mandible are comparatively so 

 superficial that the slight hemorrhage which follows 

 is soon checked when the bird, on being liberated, 

 plunges its beak under water. 



The swan marks now in use are simpler than 

 they used to be, as will be seen by the accompany- 

 ing illustrations. 



As to the number of swans at present main- 

 tained on the Thames, the following statistics will 

 be of interest. In 1887 there were 392 ; in 1888, 

 the number was 343. In 1893 the Queen had 142 

 old swans and 60 young ; the Vintners' Com- 

 pany, 91 old and 48 young: the Dyers', 68 old 

 and 36 young : in all 445. In 1894, only five more 

 were counted, their increase being counteracted 

 by casualties, swamped nests, addled eggs, acci- 

 dents to cygnets, deaths in winter, and the annual 

 annexation of about thirty birds which are 

 taken up to be fattened for the royal larder at 

 Windsor. 



Although four days are spent annually in catch- 

 ing them, it is not always possible to follow them 

 up the back waters and side streams, along many of 

 which a boat cannot pass. Those birds, however, 

 that temporarily escape, get subsequently hooked 

 by the swanherds, and marked when they come out 

 into the river again. 



As the boats in procession pass in front of the 

 Castle at Windsor, a pretty custom is observed 

 which ought not to pass unnoticed. The boats of 



