144 THE FLEDGLINGS. 



Three days after the work was completed, the 

 first egg was laid, and then one on every second 

 day, until five were in the nest, and the process 

 of incubation commenced. As far as I could 

 observe, the eggs were never uncovered. The 

 hen-bird sat by far the greater part of the tune, 

 but, on her leaving the nest to feed, the male 

 invariably took her place. In time, five infant 

 swallows that, to perpetrate a pun, were veri- 

 tably all swallow gaped greedily for food. Hard 

 the couple toiled, to feed their hungry family. As 

 the little ones grew and thrived, their residence 

 was too small to hold them; a daring spirit came 

 with their feathers, and, becoming strong, they 

 made rash attempts to scramble out on the edge 

 of the nest, and there, in the most unsteady 

 manner, to balance themselves until angrily 

 knocked in again on the return of the old birds. 



At last they abandoned their nursery, and 

 three succeeded in getting upon the pole to which 

 the nest was attached, and two fell on the floor ; 

 and what might have been their fate I do not 

 know, if the old Yulcans had not picked them up 

 and placed them with their brethren. A few 

 days' training taught the fledglings the use of their 

 wings; then taking their departure from the 

 shanty, the family started to brave the perils of 



