A SWIFT-WINGED TEIBE. 



You have seen them — the swallows — glid- 

 ing through the air with the swiftness of the 

 wind or poising for a moment on the wing and 

 then darting toward the ground as if on the 

 point of committing suicide by dashing them- 

 selves to pieces. But so dexterous are they 

 that one turn of their balanced wings sends 

 them up again like an air-lilled balloon. 



No birds are more constantly on the wing. 

 It is in that way that they take their food. 

 Perhaps you have never thought how perfectly 

 they are adapted in every way for doing this, 

 just as if the Creator had said in the begin- 

 ning, ^' I will now make the s^\ allow tribe to 

 tilt and poise and Avheel in the air." 



Then he made their bodies very light ; gave 

 them plenty of plumage, very buoyant and 

 yet so firm- that it is not easily ruffled by the 

 wind ; attached to those bodies broad, strong 

 wings and forked tails with which to propel 

 and steer themselves. Withal, he gave them 

 the precise form which is best adapted for 



108 



