430 
NOTES TO THE 
(varying according to the wind), tlie gardens about Brighton are 
full of ring-ouzels, cliiff-chaffs, willow-wrens, redstarts ; on the 
Downs are wheatears ; in the air goldfinches, greenfinches, swal- 
lows, &c. I have stood and watched these birds early on a fine 
morning (for birds of the above kinds do not fly in cloudy, dull 
days), going in continuous streams down to the sea, following 
one another as surely in the same direction as if going by a 
mariner's compass. The Eoman augurs were not quite so absurd 
perhaps as one might at first imagine ; a great many indications 
may be gathered from the flight of birds. Their motions appear to 
the common observer to be guided by chance, but the ornithologist 
knows that each bird he sees is employed on some particular 
business, and can interpret its actions. Birds always travel by 
night across the sea, working their way along the coast till a 
proper wund is blowing, and flying against any light which may 
appear on the shore. In the days of the old watchmen at 
Brighton, small birds used frequently to fly against the lanterns 
which they carried." As a general rule there is no time com- 
parable to the early morning for studying the habits of wild 
creatures. 
Swans, p. 167. — Mr. BarnwelFs swan establishment is situated 
in the garden of St. Giles's Hospital, N"orwicl] ; a most important 
and noble charity founded by Walter de Suflield, Bishop of 
Norwich (died, 1257), for the SLq:)port of four chaplains to cele- 
brate divine service, and to pray for his soul; also to be an 
asylum for the aged, decrepit, and infirm clergy of the diocese, 
and to support thirteen old people. 
There are several persons who have the right of pasturage of 
swans, on the river, in the neighbourhood of Norwich, such as the 
Bishop, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Stafford, Lord Oxford, Sir T. 
Beauchamp, the trustees of the great hospital, and the Mayor and 
Corporation, &c.,&c. The young cygnets are caught from the river 
the second week in August, and, on an average, from one hundred 
to one hundred and thirty are brought into the pond. Their food 
consists of the best barley, cut grass, and cabbages. The barley, 
is placed in a trough which floats up and down in the water, 
between two posts. The barley is saturated in water for about 
twelve hours before it is given to the swans, and each swan while 
fatting eats about one coomb, that is, half-a-quarter of barley. 
The green meat is thrown on to the top of the water, and the 
birds " nibble " it off. They are fat and in the best condition 
from October to Christmas, when they are sold. After that they 
begin to fall off, even as much as two pounds in a fortnight. 
They do not assume their white feathers till the month of 
