146 KERTIIA'S VISIT TO HER 



seen skimming round a tavern, near Lake 

 Champlain the next year, seven were observed 

 there the third year,, twenty-eight and in 

 1822, no less^than seventy had arrived in April, 

 which is the usual time of return from their mi- 

 gratory travels." 



The common sparrow sometimes seizes on a 

 swallow's nest, before it is completed ; and 

 having driven away its owner, adapts it to his 

 own use ; but such invasions are often repelled 

 after a spirited contest. This act of piracy has 

 been frequently seen ; but my aunt is inclined 

 to doubt the truth of another story, though re- 

 lated by. Linnaeus, of a sparrow who took pos- 

 session of a martin's nest, and obstinately re- 

 sisted the united efforts of a group of these birds 

 which had come to the aid of the owner ; but, 

 at length, they immured the intruder by building 

 up the entrance with the same kind of mortar 

 of which the nest was composed, 



I can see the little swallows sitting all day with 

 their heads out of the nest near my window, 

 gaping for their parent, who comes frequently to 

 them with food, and clings to the edge while they 

 gobble it up; and I understand, that after they 

 begin to fly they are fed by their parents on the 

 wing. I have watched for this, but could not 

 perceive it, they are so quick in every move- 

 ment. As soon as the first family are able to 

 provide for themselves they quit their home, and 



