BRITISH BIRDS. 
279 
his own family, which he protefts from every in- 
fult. While they are employed with the cares of 
the young brood, it is not fafe to approach near 
them, for they will fly upon any ftranger, whom 
they often beat to the ground by repeated blows ; 
■and they have been known by a ftroke of the wing 
to break a man’s leg. But, however powerful they 
are with their wings, yet a flight blow on the head 
will kill them. 
The Swan, for ages pad, has been protected on 
the river Thames as royal property; and it con- 
tinues at this day to be accounted felony to fteal 
their eggs. “ By this means their increafe is fe- 
cured, and they prove a delightful ornament to that 
noble river.” Latham fays, “ In the reign of Ed- 
ward IV. the eftimation they were held in was fuch, 
that no one who poflefled a freehold of lefs than the 
clear yearly value of five marks, was permitted 
even to keep any.” In thofe times, hardly a piece 
of water was left unoccupied by thefe birds, as well 
on account of the gratification they gave to the eye 
of their lordly owners, as that which they alfo af- 
forded when they graced the fumptuous board at the 
fplendid feafts of that period : but the fafliion of 
thofe days is pafled away, and Swans are not near- 
ly fo common now as they were fomerly, being 
by mofl: people accounted a coarfe kind of food, 
and confequently held in little eftimation : but the 
Cygnets (fo the young Swans are called) are ftiil 
