274 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



marvellous flights of these birds when they migrate are among 

 the many wonderful things of nature. Humboldt states that 

 he saw a swallow alight on the rigging of his vessel when it 

 was one hundred and twenty miles from land. How such 

 tiny creatures can sustain such extended flights it is difficult 

 to understand. 



Swallows in Swallows seem to understand the principle of 

 Council, co-operation and what the family is unable to 

 do for itself the community seems always ready to undertake for 

 it Captain Brown tells of a pair of swallows who returning to 

 their last year's nest found it occupied by a robust English 

 sparrow. The sparrow declined to give up the nest and the 

 swallows were not strong enough to eject it, whereupon a 

 council was called, as a result of which a large army of swallows 

 proceeded to close up the entrance to the nest with clay, 

 "leaving the sparrow to perish in the garrison it had so 

 gallantly defended." This happened at Strathendry, Bleachfield, 

 in Fifeshire, on the banks of the Leven, and was witnessed 

 by Mr. Gavan Inglis. But not only do the swallows co- 

 operate for the purposes of war; Mr. Inglis was a witness 

 of another effort of combination. It happened that a pair 

 of swallows had built a nest in the corner of one of his windows, 

 in which they had hatched five offspring. The parent birds fell 

 victims to a sportsman's gun and Mr. Inglis contemplated an 

 attempt to rear the family himself. This, however, proved 

 unnecessary. In a very short time a number of swallows 

 came and inspected the bereaved dwelling, apparently noting 

 the condition of the house as well as the brood. A supply 

 of food was immediately brought, and the next morning the 

 kindly offices were renewed and thenceforward continued 

 until the young were able to provide for themselves. Remark- 

 able as these incidents are they are not singular, for both 

 have been known to occur more than once. 



The House The House Martin is characterized by a white 

 spot above his tail which adds to the prettiness 



