Ladyday to Whitsunday 
Here they consented to stay awhile, but eventually marched 
off to the river, finding the shortest road. 
Towards nesting-time they seemed to try various retreats 
on the river, but apparently were not suited, and they went 
back to the two ponds. Here they made a nest on an 
island in close view of a well-used footpath. While the 
hatching was going on the male bird was never off sentry, 
showing a fierce front to all intruders except the man who 
came daily with their food. At last three cygnets were 
hatched, and when they were so far grown as to be up to 
the journey the whole family set off to the Tweed, and were 
met marching along, Papa leading the way majestically, 
then Mamma, followed by the three fluffy grey swanlings. 
How I should have liked to have seen them ! On arrival 
at the river the party separated, and wandered far and wide, 
up and down, till Queen Swan was somehow killed and one 
of the cygnets disappeared. The other two were given away, 
as the fishermen complained the swans did mischief. 
King Swan was afterwards provided with a second consort, 
and again set up housekeeping at the Two Ponds. But 
when the second family were sufficiently grown they again 
travelled in a body off to the river. This time, however, the 
keeper, meeting them, drove them back to the ponds, but 
carried King Swan to the river. He, however, shortly 
returned, with the evident intention to get his family. A 
second time he was taken to the river, and a slight weight 
tied to his foot, which prevented him walking any distance. 
He then contented himself with the river and became quite 
a pet with the fishermen, being allowed to visit the Queen 
at the ponds at nesting season. But, alas, one day poor 
King Swan was found dead on the banks of the Tweed, in 
all probability slain by some loafer with a gun calling 
himself a “ sportsman.” Queen Swan is still keeping house 
at the ponds alone. 
April 28. — We are beginning to find nests now in the 
bushes. To-day, as I was cutting out some dead wood from a 
box-tree grown into an enormous bush, there are several 
such here, I nearly dislodged a nest with three blue eggs 
39 
