SWALLOW. 43 



Her sons were summon'd on a steeple's height, 



And, call'd in common council, vote a flight. 

 ****** 



Her youthful offspring to their haunts repair, 

 And glide along in glades, and skim in air, 

 And dip for insects in the purling springs 

 And stoop on rivers, to refresh their wings. 



Dryden — Hind and Panther. 



The Swallow nevertheless seems not always able to avoid the 

 fatality of atmospheric changes ; for during the Summer of 1881 

 the number of Swallows, Martins, and Swifts, usually abundant in 

 this county, was very greatly reduced, presumably from the severe 

 winter of 1880-81, as is known to have been the case with the great 

 majority of other birds. 



The Swallow builds on rafters, in barns and other buildings, as 



was the case in Virgil's day. 



Ante 

 Garrula quam tignis nidum suspendat Hirundo. 



Yi-RG.—Geo. iv., p. 307. 



Before the noisy Swallow's nest depends 



From the strong beam that through the roof extends. 



' But hid the sacred Swallow haunt the caves, 



To guard his roof from lightning and from thieves. 



HooB— Plea for Midsummer Faries. 



The Swallow on its arrival, the time of which varies somewhat 

 according to the locality, at once attaches itself to the habitation of 

 mankind, as is so well known. Tennyson makes it sympathize with 

 our feelings too in his love song : — 



0, Swallow, Swallow, flying, flying South. 



***** 



O, tell her, brief is life, but love is long. 

 And brief the sun of summer in the North, 

 And brief the moon of beauty in the South. 



Hire song, it was so loud and yerne, 

 As any swallow sitting on a barne. 



Chaucer — Miller^s Tale. 



The flying of Swallows, is a country sign of the weather. 



When Swallows fleet soar high, and sport in air, 

 He told us that the welkin would be clear. 



G( AY— Pastoral. 



Above in the wind was the Swallow, 

 Chasing itself, at its own wild will. 



Tennyson— ^^e Dying Swan. 



Gathering Swallows twitter in the skies. 



Keats — Autumn. 



