These birds do not afford good sport with the gun, being unapproachable. In Iceland and Kamtschatka, Swan-hunting takes place during the season of moulting, because the birds are then unable to fly. Dogs trained to this sport chase and run them down; the birds, being soon worn out with fatigue, are easily killed with sticks. The Russians have another mode of killing Swans. When the snows melt, they allure them by means of stuffed Geese and Ducks. The Swans dart furiously on these decoys. The sportsmen, hidden in a hut constructed of branches of trees and heaps of snow, at short range easily shoot them. The flesh of the Swan is very indifferent in flavour. Our fore-fathers ate it, but merely from ostentation, for it was only served up on the tables of the greatest nobles. At the present day, the city of Norwich has a preserve for Swans, which are only eaten at the municipal feasts, or sent as presents to distinguished individuals. In these cases, the birds being young and tenderly fed, are by no means, if properly cooked, a dish to be despised. The inhabitants of the frozen regions of the extreme north, even with their imperfect system of _cuisine_, do not entirely disdain it; but the cause for this is apparently something analogous to the philosophical saying, "as there are no thrushes, we eat blackbirds." [Illustration: Fig. 100.--Black Swans (_Cygnus atratus_).] The river Thames is remarkable for the number of Swans which live on it. The greater quantity of them belong to the Queen; the others chiefly to the Vintners' and Dyers' Companies of the City of London; but we never heard that these feast their guests on the noble birds. Deputations from the companies make an annual visit to their preserves, called Swan-hopping, or capering--that is, catching the cygnets, and marking them in the presence of the royal swanherd with the distinguishing brand of the society to whom the parent bird belonged. * * * * * Two species of Swans were recognised by Linnæus; but later naturalists, and notably the Prince of Canino, record four species known in Europe--namely, _Cygnus olor_, _C. immutabilis_, _C. musicus_, and _C. Bewickii_--besides the American species, namely, _C. americanus_ and _C. buccinator_. There is another species, peculiar to Australia, which is entirely black: efforts have been made successfully to naturalise it in Europe. THE BLACK SWAN (_Cygnus atratus_). SYNONYMS.--_Anas Plutonia_: Shaw. _Chenopis_: Wagler.