186 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Triumph over a fox. 



served a fox swimming towards her from the op- 

 posite shor: she instantly darted into the water, 

 and, having kept him at bay for a considerable 

 time with her wings, at last succeeded in drown- 

 ing him; after which, in the sight of several per- 

 sons, she returned in triumph. This circum- 

 stance took place atPensy,in Buckinghamshire; 

 and is illustrated by an engraving, which accom- 

 panies this article. 



Swans were formerly held in such great esteem 

 in England, that, by an act of Edward the 

 .Fourth, none, except the son of the king, was 

 permitted to keep a swan, unless possessed of five 

 marks a year. By a subsequent act, the punish- 

 ment for taking their eggs was imprisonment for. 

 a year and a day, and a fine at the king's wilL 

 At present they are but little valued for the deli- 

 cacy of their flesh ; but many are still preserved 

 for their beauty. Multitudes may be seen on 

 the Thames, where they are esteemed royal pro- 

 perty, and it is accounted felony to- steal their 

 eggs. 



The flesh of the old bird is hard, and ill 

 tasted ; but those of the young, or cygnets, are 

 still fattened near Norwich, chiefly for the tables 

 of the corporation of that place. Persons who 

 have property on the river there, take the young 

 birds, and send them to some one who is em- 

 ployed by the corporation, to be fed; and for 

 his trouble he is paid about half a guinea per 

 bird. They were, a few years ago, valued at a. 



