34 LETTERS TO MARCO vi 



between the slower- flying birds and the 

 swallows. The wagtails were very busy, 

 both the gray and the pied ones : these latter 

 extremely genteel and dapper, "in evening 

 dress," as my niece Katie once said. 



The swallows have returned to their 

 nests in the boat-house, and it is delightful 



Bird's-eye view of a Swallow. 



to look down at them from the balcony as 

 they fly in through the arch beneath you. 

 This bird's-eye view of a swallow as he 

 enters the arch is quite beautiful : his tail 

 expanded shows the little crescent -shaped 

 string of white spots on it, and altogether 

 the bird looks like an exquisite tropical 



