July strollers along the banks of the above Sunbury-on­ The Swan with Two Necl{S Thames in Middlesex may be fortunate enough to observe a half-dozen Thames (Swan-upping on the Thames) skiffs, flying special flags and manned by colorfully-costumed men, going by. This small flotilla is carrying out the ancient annual custom of Swan- pping (or Swan-Hopping, as it is sometimes by Mary Reed known), that is, establishing ownership Springfield, Illinois ofmute swans on the river and marking

Her Majesty's Swan-Upper(in foreground) about to mark a cygnet with Her Majesty's mark.

44 August/September 1986 the year's crop of<.)'gnets accordingly, a ceremony which has its roots in what was once considered to be a very great HIGHEST QUALITY-MAXIMUM NUTRITION privilege. Swan Marking andSwan Upping by C. Skilbeck notes that, historically, there is some disagreement as to whether or FEEDER INSECfS not the is indigenous to Britain, some holding that it was intro­ FOR ZOOS, AQUARIUMS AND AVIARIES duced to the country (perhaps from CONTACT US NOW FOR OUR BEST PRICEI Cyprus) during the reign of Richard I Most major zoos throughout the country use our grubs. (1175-1199). The mute swan may be dis­ We're known for our quality and prompt service. tinguished from the other common MEALWORMS FLY LARVAE British variety, the whistling swan, by its The liveliest and hardiest A soft bodied white grub orange beak (which turns redder with on the market 1000 $ 3.50 1000 $ 7.00 age), and the black knobby wattle 5000...... 12.50 5000...... 30.00 where the beak joins the head, which is Meolviorms (Tenebriom molitor) are The fly larvae (Sorcaphoga bullafaj. are more pronounced in the mute swan widely used and are well-known as feed excellent jf you are having trouble With for birds We can furnish the size you chlten in your feed than in other species. It is, however, the need WAXWORMS mute swan which is regarded as the The best Bee Moth Larvae ORDERS ONLY "royal bird," being under the protection VISA & • available anywhere 1-800-222-3562 of, and the property of, the monarch, a 500 $ 6.50 (Ohio) MASTERCARD 1000...... 12.00 situation dating from the time when 1-800-222-3563 ACCEPTED The Bee Moth Larvae IS a little more swans were, prior to the advent of ($1.00 service charge) expenSIve but If thIS is what you need we (outside Ohio) refrigeration, extremely prized for their hove qualifv contribution of fresh meat to winter Add $1 .00 Handling to any order. Prices Include Shipping Charges. larders. They were particularly favored CONTACT US NOW FOR OUR BEST PRICE ON LARGER QUANTITIES! for banquets, and in 1247 Henry III requisitioned forty swans (from six 6rubcG1 counties, including Dorset, Hampshire INCORPORATED and Oxfordshire) for the Christmas feast Po. Box 15001 . Hamilton, OH 45015 at Winchester, and two years later he (513)863-4937 requisitioned a total of 104 swans from ten counties (including Kent and Sussex) and London. Before turkeys were eaten, swans were also very popular for Christmas fa.re, and at one time Norwich in Norfolk (which maintains a swan pound once used for fattening these birds for table) was famous for its swans. In the Good Housekeeping Cookery Encyclopedia (Sphere Books, 1968), the authors give a recipe for cooking cygnets, but this recipe is, of course, ofacademic interest only, since swans, as other wildlife, are protected by the law. Although two companies still hold swan feasts (the Worshipful Company of Vintners in November, and the Wor­ shipful Company of Dyers on the second Wednesday in October),! swan is rarely eaten. On the odd occasion when it appears on the menu, the bird would have been found recently dead from accidental causes (for example, by haVing flown into a power line), and the body plucked and frozen for the feast. In such cases, the meat is mixed with that of, say, goose to augment it for the meal. In 1967, the Vintners' Company Swan Feast menu included a cygnet orange salad and madeira sauce (fol­ lowing a main course of lamb), the cygnet being broiled, and in 1984 Continued on page 46

afa WATCHBIRD 45 Continuedfrom page 45

Vintners' Company Swan-Uppers cruise the Thames River lookingforyoung swans.

Continued on page 48 46 August/September 1986 .------THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ------, CONSERVATION OF BIRDS

proudly pr~sents

The Second Jean Delacour/IFCB Symposium on Breeding Birds in Captivity

February II - 15, 1987

at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Universal City (Hollywood), California

Forty prestigious speakers from around the world join with Gerald L. Schulman, Executive Director of IFCB, in honoring the late Dr. Jean Delacour.

Speakers Scheduled to Appear:

BRAULIO ARAYA CHILE JOE LONGO USA Penguins Lorys ARDEN BERCOVITZ, Ph.D USA ROY MACKAY PAPUA NEW GUINEA Bird Sexing Birds of Paradise HORST BIELFIELD F.R.G MICKEY OLISON USA Finches Currasows RALPH BOuSFIELD BOTSWANA JORGE OREJUELA COLOMBIA Cranes Conservation JACK CLINTON-EITNIEAR BELIZE GRAFJm PHIPPS AUSTRALIA Softbills Australian Avifauna SUSAN CLUBB, DVM USA PILAI POONSWAD THAILAND Psittacosis Hornbills MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM USA ARTHUR C. RISSER, JR., PH.D, USA To Be Announced Condors SCOTT DERRICKSON USA GERALD L. SCHUI.MAN USA Guam Rails Economics JARED DIAMOND INDONESIA RALPH SCHREIBER USA Irian Jaya El Nino KEVEN FLAMMER, DVM USA JOHN STOODLEY GREAT BRITAIN Pecheco's Diseases Parrot Production NATE GALE, DVM PANAMA KEN TAIrn3HITA, DVM USA Conservation Computerized Records WOLFGANG GRUMMT G.D.R. DALE R. TH(JflJSON USA Captive Breeding Psittacines JANET HANSEN USA FRANK TODD USA Hand Feeding Egg Importation JERRY JENNINGS USA KRIS VEHRS USA AFA Bird Legislation JOHNKLEA USA HSU WEI-SHU PEOPLES REP. CHINA Incubation To Be Announced ALAN LIEBERMAN USA MICHAEL LUBBOCK GREAT BRITAIN Avian Data from TNC Waterfowl

------Registration - $150 ($125 be:fore November 1, 1986)

(name) No. attending: at $150 (address) at $125 (telephone) _ Amount of check enclosed? Please tear off (or photo copy) and return this slip and check, payable to IFCB, to: IFCB, 11300 Weddington Street, North Hollywood, CA 91601 Continuedfrom page 46 a pheasant. 2 In addition to the royal swans, there smoked cygnet was served for the first Needless to say, of course, swan­ are now only two institutions licensed time. poaching occurred, and when it to own swans on the Thames, these A Game ofSwans became known that" persons of little being the Worshipful Companies of Thames swans, in fact, have other reputation became possessed ofswans;' Vintners and ofDyers, both in London. guardians, in addition to their legal pro­ an Act of Parliament was passed in 1483 The earliest record of the Master of the tection. Jan Morris's Oxford (Oxford (22 Edward IV c.6), ruling that only the Royal Game of Swans (now known as University Press, third edition, 1978), King's sons could possess a "game" of the Keeper of the Queen's Swans) mentions a noticeboard which stated swans, or a swan mark (the' 'brand occurs about 1295, although the office that' 'Any ill treatment of the swans mark" on a particular bird), unless a is certainly older than that. The Keeper should be reported to the Vintners' special grant or license had been issued of the Queen's Swans must earn his Swan Marker, the Dyers' Swan Marker, to do so. Individuals who applied for liVing by working on the Thames. He Her Majesty's Swan Marker, or failing ownership of swans had to own free­ must also be a Master Man, that is, own all ... to any Police Officer;' (p. 32). hold land or property with an annual his own business, or otherwise be in a This awful warning, however, went rental value of five marks,3 but once position to deal with swans whenever unheeded in the nineteen-fifties, since, granted, the privilege ofowning swans needed. Destruction of records in the later in the same book, the author and a swan-mark could be handed on to Great Fire of London (1666) means that mentions that a swan was found descendants, being regarded as a it is not known when the Dyers' Com­ "loitering elegantly on the pond in the "freehold ofinheritance:' pany was granted ownership of swans middle of Tom Quad (a quadrangle on By the sixteenth and seventeenth cen­ on the Thames, but it is thought to have one of the Oxford colleges), wearing a turies, swans were Widely kept, and a been around 1550, perhaps earlier. The black bow tie around its neck;' (p. 212). register of swan marks is extant from Vintners' Company have exercised their This incident was particularly ironic in Elizabethan days. These marks (some­ privilege since the early 1500s; it may that, at one time, Oxford was granted times based upon the owners' arms, or date from the 1483 Act mentioned. The the privilege of a "game" of swans-a his merchant's mark) were usually made Dyers' Company Swan Master (known privilege much sought after, not only on the bird's upper mandible. At one as the Bargemaster) also has the because of the fresh meat and eggs thus time, the birds were also pinioned, that ceremonial function of preceding his obtained, but because selling swans for is, the tip ofone wing was cut offso that Company's Wardens in state proces­ consumption was very lucrative. For the bird could not fly, but, due largely to sions, on which occasions he wears example, in 1274 the "Statuta Poletrice" public pressure, this is no longer carried scarlet waistcoat and pantaloons, white ofthe set the price ofa out, although as a consequence of the stockings, and an embroidered blue swan for eating at 3/-, expensive when swans being able to mix with "wild" coat whose shoulder plate bears the compared to 2 Y2 d for what is termed swans, their care is rendered more Dyers' Company arms. He also carries "best capon;' 5d for a goose, and 4d for difficult. his Swan Hook, a sort of miniature

Here are seen representatives ofall three swan markingauthorities: Keeper ofthe Queen's Swans, Vintners' Company Swan Marker, andDyers'Bargemaster. 48 August/September 1986 "'~'"''1''' Yes, count me as a member of the ..~..~ American Federation of Aviculture ~•~ "'7 j po. Box 1568, Redondo Beach, California 90278 0", OF R~\(."'- THE WATCH BIRD IS THE OFFICIAL BI·MONTHLY PUBLICATION OFTHEAFA,A NON·PROFITORGANIZATION Please accept my application for membership in the American Federation of Aviculture. Send me 6 issues (1 year) of the a.f.a. WATCHBIRO magazine, and a membership card which entitles me to all the rights and privileges of AFA membership. Check membership category desired: NEW 0 REN EWAL 0 Individual $20/year 0 Supporting $35/year 0 Sustaining $50/year 0 Commercial $100/year, includes listing in WATCHBIRD 0 FOREIGN MEMBERS: Add $8/year in U.S. Funds. First class rates available on request. My check is enclosed for the amount of $ _

Name Address _

City State Zip _ Please allow 60·90 days for delivery of your first issue. Telephone (-----,-::-=----'- _ AREA $15 of the $20 membership/subscription goes toward the publication and distribution of The Watchbird. ------q.lII H1C'1", Yes, count me as a member of the .._~ American Federation of Aviculture ~~i po. Box 1568, Redondo Beach, California 90278 0", OF R~\(."'- THE WATCHBIRD IS THE OFFICIAL BI·MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE AFA, A NON·PROFIT ORGANIZATION Please accept my application for membership in the American Federation of Aviculture. Send me 6 issues (1 year) of the a.f.a. WATCHBIRO magazine, and a membership card which entitles me to all the rights and privileges of AFA membership. Check membership category desired: NEW 0 REN EWAL 0 Individual $20/year 0 Supporting $35/year 0 Sustaining $50/year 0 Commercial $100/year, includes listing in WATCHBIRD 0 FOREIGN MEMBERS: Add $8/year in U.S. Funds. First class rates available on request. My check is enclosed for the amount of $ _

Name Address _

City State Zip _ Please allow 60-90 days for delivery of your first issue. Telephone (-----,-::-=----'- _ AREA $15 of the $20 membership/subscription goes toward the publication and distribution of The Watchbird. 1------_ : q.lII(RIC'1'!r : I would like to send a GIFT membership in the ~1 i American Federation of Aviculture \~~ : po. Box 1568, Redondo Beach, California 90278 + OF R~\(." THE WATCHBIRD IS THE OFFICIAL BI·MONTHLY PUBLICATION OFTHE AFA,A NON·PROFIT ORGANIZATION. Please accept the individual listed below as a member In the American Federation of Aviculture. Send 6 issues (1 year) of the a.f.a. WATCHBIRO magazine, and a membership card which entitles the individual to all the rights and privileges of AFA membership. Check membership category desired: NEW 0 REN EWAL 0 Individual $20/year 0 Supporting $35/year 0 Sustaining $50/year 0 FOREIGN MEMBERS: Add $8/year in U.S. Funds. First class rates available on request. My check is enclosed for the amount of $ _ Giftfor _

Address _

City State Zip _ Please allow 60-90 days for delivery of your first issue. Telephone (,-----,-::-=---'- _ AREA Gift message to read: _

$15 of the $20 membership/subscription goes toward the publication and distribution of The Watchblrd. THE AFA ANNUAL BIRD CENSUS

PLEASE LIST ON THE ATTACHED FORM ALL TYPES OF UNDOMESTICATED BIRDS EITHER BY COMMON OR SCIENTIFIC NAME, ~ INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. BY SUPPLYING THE FOLLOWING DATA YOU WILL HELP THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE BUILD A STATISTICAL CASE TO PROVE TO OPPONENTS OF AVICULTURE THAT AMERICAN AVICULTURE REALLY DOES BREED BIRDS AND CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION. MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE, P.O. BOX 1568. REDONDO BEACH. CA 90278

NAME _ STREET _ CITY --:- _ STATE _ ZIPCODE _

DATE _ AFA MEMBER: YES _ NO _

NAME t TOTAL NUMBER OF TOTAL NUMBER OF BABIES TYPE OF BIRDS IN RAISED BETWEEN JAN. 1 - DEC. 31 OF SPECIES YOUR COLLECTION OF LAST YEAR MUTATION I- MALE FEMALE SEX MALE FEMALE SEX UNKNOWN UNKNOWN EXAMPLES , ,~ RED-BILLED FIRE FINCH '. 5 8 ! .' 4 7 ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET .,~- 1 1 \ ! ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET 1 I' BLUE PARADISE CRANE 1 1 2 2

~ 1 , .... "'. \...... _. - \ , , , , , .' .. I" ,. .-,) I I l i- . .., ; '~'- <. )

f I. I I l...

" ,

i,~- • , , ~ ~ , \ .... (t""'" , -, .... ( , '\, ( ...... ~."" ,~ -

f"~ "" i ,,' . 't, t l ,;:" I -~ t·, ''';:;., , f '. ;', \ .... - 'J ~. 'J .... < J , ;, ~ .. r'~ - \......

./ ',,-,.- . ", .. - j I

• DO NOT LIST: CANARIES; COCKATIELS; BUDGERIGARS; LOVEBIRD MUTATIONS; BENGALESE AND ZEBRA FINCHES; RING-NECKED AND DIAMOND DOVES; PAINTED (BUTTON), COTURNIX AND BOBWHITE QUAIL; COMMON PEAFOWL; RING-NECKED, GOLDEN. AND SILVER PHEASANTS; NATIVE WATERFOWL. IF YOU NEED MORE SPACE. PLEASE REPRODUCE THIS FORM BY HAND OR MACHINE shepherd's crook on a long pole, with which the birds are caught. As in the case of the Keeper of the Queen's Marsh FarmslNCUBATORS Swans, both he and the Vintners' Swan Master (known as the Swan Marker) & BIRD EQUIPMENT look after their avian charges year­ • INCUBATORS with fully automatic turners, temperature and humidity control. round, and as early as 1509, Vintners' Company records state: "Item - Paid in the Great Frost to James the Under Swanherd for Upping the Master's Swans - 4 shillings:'4 Swans were picked up during frosty weather quite frequently in the old days and, indeed, Mr. EJ. Turk, the present Keeper of the Queen's Swans, writes TURN-X that it has happened during his time. 12 to 48 eggs. ROLL-X However, this particular type of Up to 209~eggs. FOUNTAINS "upping" is not the annual swan­ WE ALSO CARRY THE FINEST: QjE~~ r---.:s::~~ upping ceremony with which this riiip;:~1 • BROODERS I' " -~ article is concerned. • FEEDERS & FOUNTAINS f.- ::: _ •, - At one time, swan-upping was carried • FLY CONTROL - • HOW TO BOOKS & MORE BROODERS • out between London Bridge and Henley-on-Thames, but this has not been the case for the past several years. MANUFACTURED BY The 1985 voyage followed the river Write for our .~.["l from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to CATALOG today.••~ .~ Pangboume, Berkshire, during the week ELKTRIC COMPANY. INC. ,n') ofJuly 15th. BOX 81303, DEPT. W SAN DIEGO, CA 92138 Account ofSwan-Upping Voyage TELEPHONE (619) 297-9000 The courts of the two companies witness the work. The occupants ofthe skiffs mentioned can be identified by their garb, as follows: (all wear white trousers); Keeper ofthe Queen's Swans - brass-buttoned scarlet jacket, left arm with badge depicting a swan, the words PARROT SEXING "Her Majesty's Swan Keeper" written round it, and a hat with a Royal Crown by badge. Her Majesty's Swan-Uppers ­ white trousers and scarlet jerseys. Fecal Hormone Examination Vintners' Company Swan Marker­ green, silver-buttoned coat, decorated with silver braid, and a peaked hat with $30 per bird I(with a badge of the Company arms, which also appear on the coat. Vintners' Swan-Uppers - dressed all in white. quantity discounts available. Dyers' Bargemaster - blue coat with gold braid and brass buttons, badges Send dry droppings gathered on with Company arms on hat and jacket. Dyers' Swan-Uppers - blue jerseys and six different days packaged indi­ white trousers. Both the Dyers' and Vintners' Swan­ vidually in plastic bags with the Uppers jerseys bear the legend Vintners' Royalty, or Dyers' Royalty, a sort of shorthand rendition ofthe phrase used type of bird noted. in Company records for the granting of a license to keep swans, to wit, ''A Grant ofa Royalty ofa Game ofSwans:' Information available with self-addressed, stamped envelope. Additionally, flags identify the skiffs according to occupancy. The Keeper of the Queen's Swans flies a white flag AVISEXUIboratoryc?/~ with a crown and the Royal cipher (ERIII). The Dyers' and Vintners' flags both depict swans (the former on a blue Box 287, Iowa City, IA 52244 Continued on page 51 afa WATCHBIRD 49 Budgerigar Society of Missouri Rocky Mountain Society of Annual Exhibition BudgerigarShow Aviculture.lnc. August 1.2.3. 1986 24th Annual Bird Show and Sale The Executive Inn October 25. 1986 4530 N. Lindberg Continental-Denver Hotel St. Louis, Missouri Speer Blvd.. at 1-25, Denver. CO Judge: John Petrillo Information: contact show manager For information contact: Tim Murphy Show chairman, Bob Pollock 7722 W. Geddes Place 31 David Dr.. Harvester, MO 63303 The Watchbird offers free publicity for Littleton. CO 80123 member club bird shows by announcing (303) 979-3991 the dates and locations of the shows. To have your show listed it is necessary to get Central Alabama Aviculture Society Georgia Cage Bird Society the data to the Watchbird four to five 5th Annual All Feather Bird Fair 30th Annual All Bird Show months before the show date. For and Judged Cage Bird Show November 1. 1986 example, ifyour show takes place the first Holidaylnn August 30. 31. 1986 week ofOctober, it should be listed in the Governors House Hotel and Chamblee Dunwoody Road & 1-285 August/September issue. The deadline Conference Center 51,400 in cash prizes! for that issue is June 1st. (Copy/Article Information. contact show chairman: 2705 East South Blvd. deadline is two months preceding publi­ Montgomery, AL Angel Lauderdale cation date.) For information contact: 3554Tritt Springs Ct. Fair Chairman c/o Montgomery Zoo ~arietta, GA 30062 P.O. Box ZEBRA New Hampshire Aviculture Society (404) 971-6602 Montgomery, AL 36109-0313 12thAnnual Show Call: (205) 832-2637 October 11. 1986 Greater Pittsburgh Cage Bird Society Lion's Club 11 th Annual Show Lyons Road, Hudson, NH November 1. 1986 Wisconsin Cage Bird Club. Inc. Contact show chairman: Casa Royale Hotel 9th Annual Cage Bird Show David Wallace, RFD-1, Kings Towne Park Washington, PA September 26.27. 1986 Epsom, NH 03234 (30 mi. SW ofPittsburgh) Travelers Inn Information. contact: Coleen Sullivan-Baier Hwys.41 and 175, Fond du Lac, WI Cleveland Cage Bird Society 1105 Bingay Dr.. Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Information contact show secretary: Annual All Bird Exhibition (412) 366'9168 Jane Brickham, 505 McKinley Ave. October 12.1986 Omro, WI 54963 German Central Organization Lodge 38th Annual National Cage Bird Show (414) 685-2242 7863 York Rd .. Parma, Ohio the largest show ofits type For information contact: held in North America Ray Ptak, advertising Boston Cockatiel Society. Inc. sponsored by Cleveland Cage Bird Society 1stAnnual Foreign Bird Show Kellogg Inc.. Seeds & Supplies 7102 Wilber Ave., Parma. OH 44129 September27.1986 November 13-15.1986 Call (216) 842-0948 Weston Town Hall Adams Mark Hotel Route 128. exit 49, Weston, MA St. Louis, Missouri Contact co-show manager: Greater Miami Avicultural Society For show information contact: Linda S. Rubin Exotic Bird Sale & Exhibition David Guinn, R.R. 1, Box 329A 93 Woodcliff Rd. October 18. 19. 1986 Yorktown, IN 47396 Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 Tamiami Park Youth Fair Grounds For show advertising contact: (617) 469-0557 West Suburbs, Miami, FL John Ulrich Information contact: Kellogg Inc.. Seeds &Supplies Douglas Hall, G.M.A.S. P.O. Box 684, Milwaukee, WI 53201 Great American Bird Show P.O. Box 1244, Miami. FL 33265-1244 Call (305) 552-8682 sponsored by "Best In The West" Kaytee Products Inc. 6 Clubs of San Diego area combine for October 2-4. 1986 Sun Coast Avian Society Open All Bird Show Ramada O'Hare Hotel 11th Annual Exotic & Pet Show November 14.15.16.1986 Chicago, Illinois October 18.19.1986 Del Mar Fairgrounds For information call: Inn on the Point Mission Tower Bldg. Show manager Harvey Smith 7627W. Columbus Dr. Del Mar, CA 1 (800) 558-3502 or write: Rocky Point Island. Tampa, FL judges: Kaytee Great American Bird Show Information contact show secretary: I Bud Ricks - Canaries 292 E. Grand St.. Chilton, WI 53014 Helen G. Hartmann Joe Krader - Exotics 4666 27th Ave.. North Contact: Janice Pritchard St. Petersburg, FL 33713 457 West Douglas Ave. Minnesota Cage Bird Assoc. Call (813) 321-1791 EI Cajon, CA 92020 and the Phone (619) 442-1164 day Northstar Parrot Breeders Assoc. National Finch Society Regional Show (619) 443-6684 eve combine efforts to present an hosted by the All Bird Show Gold Coast Exotic Bird Club. Inc. October 11, 12. 1986 11 th Annual Open Bird Show Greater Jacksonville Aviculture Society KnoUwood Mall October 25. 1986 9th Annual Bird Show 8332 Hwy. 7 Anacapri Hotel November 15. 1986 St. Louis Park, MN 1901 No. Federal Hwy. (US 1) Jacksonville Airport Hilton Inn Information contact: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Michael Bronson USA: toll free (800) 327-4506 For information contact: 580742nd Ave. S. Florida: toll free (800) 824-8711 Bobby Nipper, Rt. 10, Box 147 Minneapolis, MN 55417 Information contact show manager: Gainsville, FL 32605 (612) 727-3967 John Franchak (305) 588-3115 (904) 372-0299

50 August/September 1986 Continuedfrom page 49 poisoning from discarded fishing background, the latter on red) and each weights, and, among other factors, FINEST BIRD FARM flag bears the Company arms. Interest­ nesting disturbances and river traffic), ingly, the Vintners' Company arms have this is most encouraging. For com­ Cockatiels· Canaries- Finches swans (bunches of grapes round their parison, the 1985 figures, again Lovebirds-Australian Parakeets necks) as supporters, and the Vintners' courtesy ofthe Vintners' Company, are: Australian Finches' Rosellas Hall in Upper Thames Street has swans H.M. The Queen Vintners' Dyers' ...... --_1:"1. Grass Keels' Budgies Diamond Doves incorporated into the design of their Adult birds 29 2 1 metal gates - although, ironically, the Cygnets 27 18 20 office of the Clerk of the Vintners' In addition, 83 adult birds without Company is in Black Swan House in cygnets were sighted, but not identified. Kennet Wharf Lane. Although the increase in the swan The actual swan-upping is carried out population is small, it is very heart­ as follows: as the skiffs progress along ening, and perhaps we may hope that it the river, the first person to spot a raft of will continue. If it does, it will be due in swans gives the traditional cry of "All­ very large measure to the Swan Masters (714) up!", this being a warning to the boats to and their Swan Uppers, modern 524-9653 maneuver into position around the caretakers of the birds, as well as car­ birds. Ownership ofthe cygnets born in rying on an ancient and noble tradition. 4271 Aspenglow Circle May is established via the swan marks Yorba Linda, Ca. 92686 on the parent birds, cygnets being allo­ Acknowledgements Shipped Anywhere in the U.S. cated to the owners of the cob (male) Acknowledgements are due to the following: and pen (female) alternately, the cob Mr. F.]. Thrk, M.v.O., H.M. Keeper of the Swans; to the Clerk of the Vintners' Company; and to the being the "lead" bird and its owners Clerk and the Honorary Archivist of the Dyers' AVIARY WEST allocated the first cygnet. Odd cygnets Company for valuable assistance. No. AW-36 in unequal-numbered broods are "Swan Marking and Swan Upping;' a paper Bird Diameter 11" generally allocated in rotation among written by Mr. C. Skilbeck, Honorary Archivist of Bag Depth 16" the Dyers' Company, London, contains much Nets Handle 36" the three owners, or sometimes to the interesting historical and background information Call or write No. AW-18 owner ofthe cob. us for pricing Diameter 11" on the subject. Extracts used in this article by information. Royal cygnets go unmarked. Dyers' permission. Bag Depth 16" Handle 18" Company birds receive one small nick References No. AW-12 on their beaks, those belonging to the Diameter 8" "Swan Marking & Swan Upping," C. Skilbeck, Vintner's Company being given two Bag Depth 11" Honorary Archivist of the Dyers' Company, Handle 12" small nicks. It is the latter swan mark London. Text of paper given to the Guildhall which is said to have given rise to the Historical Association, November, 1984. public house sign depicting''The Swan "Swan Upping," leaflet N.34, March 1978 (revised With Two Necks:' April 1979 and August 1980), Lord Cham­ berlain's Office, London. Our nets feature The birds are also counted. As Letters from Mr. F.]. Turk, MVO, Her Majesty's 100% nylon netting, recently as the 1920s they were Keeper of Swans, dated 4 June, 11 July and 1 hardwood handles. and numerous enough so that a policy of August 1985. spring steel hoops. leaving only two eggs per nest was Letters from the Vintners' Company, London, 2042 Atlantida Dr. dated 25 October 1984 and 1July 1985. Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 adopted, but the swan population Letters from the Dyers' Company, London, of 27 having declined disastrously since then, June and 29July 1985. (818) 330-8700 this is no longer done. Indeed, concern Source for figures: Letter of23 October 1985 from is such that the Crown and the two Clerk ofthe Vintners' Company. Worshipful Companies have commis­ Additional Reading sioned an investigation (to last three "Swan Marking & Swan Upping:' C. Skilbeck, years) into the life cycle ofthe swan. Honorary Archivist of the Dyers' Company, The Vintners' Company provides the London. Text of paper given to the Guildhall following count for the 1984 census: Historical Association, November, 1984. Contains much interesting historical and back­ H.M. The Queen Vintners' Dyers' ground information on the subject. Adult birds 22 3 "The Mute Swan in ;' Norman F. Tice­ Cygnets 19 9 12 hurst, Cleaver-Hune Press Ltd., London, 1957. Since unmarked birds, some of which "Swans;' J.]. McCoy, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1967. • Zebras may be "wild," are claimed for the • Societies • Gouldians Crown, the larger number of swans Footnotes • RaTes noted as belonging to H.M. the Queen 1. These Companies are descended from the lOVEBIIWS is, perhaps, not too surprising. In medieval trade guilds, and can best be described • Peachface & Mutations addition, 106 adult birds without as fraternal and charitable organizations for • Fishers certain trades and crafts, although these are not • Blue Masks SHIPPED ANYWHERE • Black Masks IN THE UNITED STATES cygnets were also sighted, but not their only functions. From L.A. Intr:mational identified. 2. 1/- (one shilling) was 12d (sterling pence). The GUA~lIlJEED The 1985 count, overall, produced a current U.K. decimal coinage has 5p ('new' I QUAIJTY higher total than last year, largely in the pence) to the shilling. BUDGIES CANARIES upper reaches of the river. In view of 3. The mark, now obsolete, was worth 160 sterling INDIAN RINGNECKS pence, according to the Oxford English Dic­ GOLDEN ~~o~re~!eROSELLAS the decline in the swan population tionary (Oxford University Press, 1971). By Prtor Appointment Only noted earlier (due largely to lead 4.Sameas2.•

afa WATCHBIRD 51