354 HOW THEY MANAGE LOVE AFFAIRS. 



by a sharp zifit the meaning of which is well understood, 

 for in an instant the poultry leave their food, and gaze 

 round about in evident fear and trembling ; and should the 

 warning be repeated, they at once seek for shelter from the 

 coming danger. 



If the following account is to be relied on, the swallow 

 would seem to carry on affairs matrimonial in a very 

 amusing and curious manner. 



"When on one occasion I was on a fishing excursion," 

 writes M. Norman, " I landed on an island in the lake 

 Skarsjon for the purpose of drying the nets. I there observed 

 a great many swallows perched at some little distance apart 

 on a withered pine-tree. Immediately afterwards one of 

 the number took wing, and after making a little circuit 

 returned to the rest, and made up to an individual of the 

 party. If it was well received, the whole flock flew away 

 under song and jubilee ; but they presently came back again, 

 and the pair in question seemed to make a match of it. 

 Subsequently another swallow made a like excursion in the 

 air, when the same game was repeated. This occurred 

 frequently. At times, however, the suitor, on his return, 

 was coldly received by the bird to whom he made love, in 

 which case he was obliged to repeat the ceremony to other 

 females, until his addresses were accepted. When this hap- 

 pened, the whole flock again took wing, and great rejoicings 

 ensued as before. When, however, my nets were dry, and 

 I left the place, all the swallows were obliged to take wing, 

 no doubt to the great sorrow of such as had not had time 

 either to court, or to celebrate their marriages." 



In Scandinavia the swallow is looked upon with a sort of 

 love and reverence ; and it is considered sinful to destroy 



