THE BABY SWALLOW 141 



in one spot, and the parent who has one to 

 feed spends half her time hunting it up 

 in a new place every time she comes. Swal- 

 low babies are very different. They stay in 

 the nest those I have watched till they 

 can fly well ; for days they stand on the edge 

 and try their powers by beating the wings, 

 till, when at last they do venture, they reach 

 the haven they start for without accident. 

 In a short time after its first flight a little 

 swallow will follow its parents out of doors 

 and make short excursions in the air, and in 

 a few days one can hardly tell the young 

 from the old. 



Says a thoughtful observer, albeit a 

 sportsman, " The more the habits of any 

 wild animals are known, the greater is our 

 admiration called forth, for we see traits of 

 character developed and intellectuality ex- 

 hibited that are hidden from the superficial 

 observer." 



