NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 79 



children's heads till their bed-time ; nor was he distiu'bed by the 

 child moAung about, or even walking, but would remain perfectly 

 quiet with his head under his v^^ng, till he was put away for the 

 night iu some warm corner, for he liked much warmth. 



The kind and considerate attempt to alienate the 

 attached bird from its little friends had its effect. 



It is now fom' days (writes worthy Mr. Trevelyan, in conclusion) 

 since he came in to roost in the house, and though he did not then 

 show any symptoms of shjTiess, yet he is evidently becoming less 

 tame, as the whistle will not now bi'ing him to the hand ; nor does 

 he visit us as formerly, but he always acknowledges it when within 

 hearing by a chirp, and by flying near. Nothing could exceed his 

 tameness for about six weeks ; and I have no doubt it woidd have 

 continued the same had we not left him to himself as much as we 

 could, fearing he would be so perfectly domesticated that he would 

 be left behind at the time of migration, and of coiu-se be starved 

 in the winter from cold and hunger. 



And so ends this agreeable story: not, however, that 

 it was ' of course' that the confiding bird would be 

 starved if it remained ; for the Rev. W. F. Cornish, 

 of Totness, kept two tame swallows, one for a year and 

 a half, and the other for two years, as he informed Mr. 

 Yarrell. 



Wilson has proved that the American barn-swallow 

 may be easily tamed, and he observes that they, too, 

 soon become exceedingly gentle and familiar. He fre- 

 quently kept them in his room for several days at a 

 time, when they employed themselves in catching flies, 

 picking them from his clothes and hair, and calling out 

 occasionally as they observed some of their old compa- 

 nions passing the windows. 



But, after all, it is very questionable kindness to 

 make a pet' of a creature so essentially volatile. Look 

 at the bird. Observe its tiny legs and feet. See how 

 the whole structure is fitted for an aerial existence. 

 Look at the prodigal development of wing, and the 

 powerful muscles destined to work the alar machinery. 



