ALTRUISM AMONG THE SWALLOWS 57 



so much, and to be so often disappointed, there 

 never seemed to be the least anger or irritation in 

 their little white breasts ; they bowed without a 

 murmur to the decisions of their parental provi- 

 dence, and not only that, there was unmistakable 

 ' altruism ' in the conduct of two of them. These 

 two were one on each side of a third, which 

 seemed weak and unable to keep on its legs ; for 

 which reason it had less chance of being fed. At 

 least, so apparently thought one of the others ; for 

 it put its beak cleverly and tenderly under the 

 breast of the weak one, and poked and poked till 

 it got it to stand up : then their ' charitable 

 organisation ' was evinced, for the two outsiders 

 propped up the feeble one between them, pressing 

 close to it most affectionately. They were chatter- 

 ing all the time busily, but they never relaxed their 

 support even when the dainty and desired bit was 

 presented to one of the three. 



The young birds never rose to meet the parent, 

 as White of Selborne describes them as doing ; if 

 they had, there would have been a terrible clashing 

 in the air. No ; they looked and sounded like a 

 vibrating musical cord as they awaited the parent 

 bird. It had quite the effect of a struck harp-string 

 upon me ; not a bird left its place, only stretched 

 itself up as high as it could, and immediately and 

 quietly subsided afterwards. 



