238 



Birds. 



breast of the female is nearly white. These birds do not 

 frequent the banks of rivers, but are generally found 

 walking among the grass of meadows, and following 

 sheep. They are summer visitors to England. 



White says, that " while the cows are feeding in the 

 moist, low pastures, broods of Wagtails, white and grey, 

 run round them, close up to their noses, and under their 

 very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that settle on 

 their legs, and probably finding worms and Iarva3 that are 

 roused by the trampling of their feet. Nature is such 

 an economist that the most incongruous animals can avail 

 themselves of each other." 



" Interest makes strange friendships ! " 



THE SWALLOW. (Eirundo rustica.) 



" From the low-roof d cottage ridge 



See the chattering Swallow spring ; 



Darting through the one-arch 'd bridge, 



Quick she dips her dappled wing." 



CUNNINGHAM. 



SWALLOWS are easily distinguished from all other birds, 

 not only by their general structure, but by their twitter- 



