270 
MR. T. SOUTnWELL ON THE ST. HELEN’S SWAN-PIT. 
ascertain to whom they belong ; and if, as is generally the case, 
the male and female birds are owned by different proprietors, the 
brood is equally divided ; if there is an odd young one, the 
representatives of the two owners ‘ toss up ’ for it, and by this 
means make an amicable distribution. Should the marks in the 
bill of the old birds be defective from any cause, the opportunity 
is taken to renew them by fresh cutting. 
“ The young birds have their feet turned on their backs, where 
they are tied by a piece of soft list, and are then placed on a bed 
of rushes at the bottom of the boat if they are to be taken away 
for fatting; but if they are destined to replenish the breeding 
stock, they are pinioned by removing a portion of the wing at the 
carpal joint — a rough but effectual piece of surgery — and are then 
returned to the custody of their parents. All are ‘ marked ’ by 
having certain cabalistic signs, the ancient 1 Swan mark ’ pertaining 
to the ‘ right of Swans,’ cut upon their bills. This is either done 
by incising the skin or notching the side of the bill ; the latter is 
the more permanent, but both are probably equally painful to the 
bird ; and ancient as is the practice, it seems a pity that one less 
cruel cannot be substituted for it, such, for instance, as punching 
small holes in the web of the foot, which would admit of an 
infinity of combinations, and would be much less painful for 
the bird. The young Swans intended for the Swan-pit are 
not pinioned, as it would tend to prevent their fattening so 
readily.” 
We will now return with the cygnets to the St. Helen’s Swan- 
pit, where they are received by Mr. Cox, the governor. When all 
are assembled the number will amount to from seventy in a bad 
season to about a hundred in a good one. The birds soon settle 
down and the mortality is very slight ; it sometimes happens, 
however, that a few weakly individuals, or those removed too 
early from their parents, pine and die, but on the whole they seem 
to lead a very happy life. At first they are fed principally on cut 
grass; but they soon take very kindly to barley, of which each bird 
in the process of fatting is estimated to consume about three or 
four bushels. 
It is, as may be imagined, a very pretty sight to see such a large 
number of these fine birds feeding. After their appetites are 
somewhat satisfied, they, duck-like, elevate their pointed ex- 
