The evening times., 1898-09-10

the young ones are of a slate color, but
at that age they begin to turn brown and
white, and at twelve months their plu-
mage Is all white. The cygnets OF the
black swan do not at first differ in ap-
pearance from those Of the white, the
pIumage of the black adult swan being
below the top feathers almost as white
as snow.
The cygnets follow the hen very closely
for the first year of their lives: after
twelve months she begins TO beat them
of
The ownership and control OF the swans
of the Thames are arranged In this sat
isfactory manner. and, by the way. the
method of this odd partnership. In which
Queen Victoria takes such a curious
delight is rarely interesting:
Should there be an odd number OF cyg-
nets in brood the odd bird is counted
/ TO the owner of the cob-be he Queens
bird Winners or Dyers'-
When the cygnets have attained about
/ two months trial awaits them Every
| year the swan uppiDg voyage takes
| place But the story of the "upping Is
/ well told in the words of Abnett. ST.
| I'VE started this year from Southwark
bridge with six boats, two boats OF her
! ma jesty rowing six men and two boats
! of the Dyers' and two OF the Winners
! company with five men each The first
! boats crew that sighted any OF the
swans shouted Haul up and the blessed
| swans knows the meaning of that cry
| as well as them that utters IT. Up go
/ their long necks and they try their level
| best TO get away. the cygnets following
/ close The boats was after them, one
behind the other in position. and closing
/ gradually in they penned the birds be-
! tween boats and bank. Closer and closer
| we came until we could reach some OF
/ them by hand; others were brought near
I by the swan hook-a bill-snaped hook at
! the end OF long pole
Now. there is only one right way To
! handle a swan. young or old. and that
! is 10 pick il up and bring its legs over
! its back Having caught our bird. We
/ mark 1t on the mandibIe. The Queens :
I mark is a diamond. that of the Vint-
ner's Company two hicks. that OF the
/ Dyers' one nick and crossbar- The
marking, when skillfully performed.
I doesn't hurt the birds; their beaks, you
see. are horny. like our nails
Swans live to ripe old age. unless ac-
/ cidents or mGlevolence carries them or
I Sometimes it falls TO the duty Of the
swankeeper TO bind up broken leg or a
wounded wing. but it is seldom bird
RECEIVERS when the wings are seriously
. hurt.
/ Fortunately for bird life. both accident
/ and animOsity are rare. and there are one
/ or two canIenarian swans at Windsor to-
/ day and several that have passed Jleir
jubilee.
Every year from one 10 three dozen
/ cyguets are fastened for the royal table.
I and for presentation by the queen 20 her
! private friends
/ They are chosen six OF seven months
/ old. kept in confinement for SIX weeks,
{ and fed on the best oats and barley meal
When sufficiently plump they are kille Z
and sent 10 the royal kitchens.
I IL is not perhaps generally known
: that the swans in Battersea Park were
supplied from the royal swanneries- Three
/ years ago a pair Of Queens swans were
/ sent there. and so numerous are their
! descendants that no fewer than twenty
/ of them were recently presented 10 Vie
I tOria.