274 AN OWL'S HEAD HOLIDAY. 



than a distrust of the Divine Providence, a sub- 

 tle form of atheism. What are chimneys for, 

 pray ? And as for soot and smoke, we were 

 made to live in them. Otherwise, let some of 

 our opponents be kind enough to explain why 

 we were created with black feathers." 



So, in brief, the discussion runs ; with the 

 usual result, no doubt, that each side convinces 

 itself. 



We may assume, however, that these old- 

 school and new-school swifts do not carry their 

 disagreement so far as actually to refuse to hold 

 fellowship with one another. Conscience is but 

 imperfectly developed in birds, as yet, and they 

 can hardly feel each other's sins and errors of 

 belief (if indeed these things be two, and not 

 one) quite so keenly as men are accustomed to 

 do. 



After all, it is something to be grateful for, 

 this diversity of habit. We could not spare 

 the swifts from our villages, and it would be 

 too bad to lose them out of the Northern for- 

 ests. May they live and thrive, both parties 

 of them. 



I am glad, also, for the obscurity which at- 

 tends their annual coming and going. Whether 

 they hibernate or migrate, the secret is their 

 own ; and for my part, I wish them the wit to 

 keep it. In this age, when the world is in such 



