50 DEL AGO A BAY. 



the weather, and then all leisurely took their 

 departure, no doubt very glad to see the sun 

 again shining brightly. I felt quite sorry when 

 my little visitors departed, but was glad they 

 chose their countrywoman's house in their time 

 of need, for they proved to be English swallows. 

 The fussy little wagtails are very plentiful, 

 and run about quite close to houses, and there 

 are, of course, many other birds represented 

 here, including the useful vulture and the cruel 

 hawk, watching his opportunity to carry off 

 some poor baby chicken, and the game-birds, 

 quails, partridges, guinea-fowl, &c. ; but I care 

 most for the pretty little birds, and love to 

 listen to their varied songs and quaint cries, 

 always excepting that of a goat-sucker, which 

 constantly awakens me from a sound sleep with 

 the most unearthly screeching, the cry sounding 

 quite weird as it rushes past the house and dies 

 away in the distance. I often find these birds 

 half asleep in the woods, either crouching on the 

 ground or on the branch of a tree, lying down 

 flat against the bark. They seem quite dazed 



