56 BIED NOTES 



notion I have always held that the superior vigour 

 of the male birds and other creatures may well 

 have something to do with their more lively 



colouring. 



June 25, 1882. 



I went a little way up the hill to-day, and saw 

 a pretty sight on the way. On the edge of a low 

 roof sat six young swallows (or birds of the 

 swallow kind) all in a row. I am doubtful about 

 the species, because they were so very white : from 

 the front they seemed all white waistcoat except 

 the pretty little mobile heads, and the wings that 

 set up a wonderful quivering and fluttering motion 

 when the parent bird appeared in the distance. 

 For they were being fed. The parent or parents, 

 for I think there were two, were much darker. 

 They were house martins, I think, but they passed 

 so rapidly that I could not be sure. In any case 

 they were devoted parents, and to see all the wings 

 begin to quiver, and the six large mouths to open, 

 and to hear the eager cries, was most interesting. 

 But what pleased me most was the fraternal 

 feeling shown among them : only one, or at most 

 two, could receive anything each time the parent 

 visited them ; and, as far as I could see, the 

 distribution was anything but impartial. How 

 could the poor birds remember which they had fed 

 last ? But though the young things had to wait 



