SWALLOW-TIME. 99 



for pike. Before the bend of the firmly elastic rod, the 

 leaded minnow slides out through the air, running true 

 and sinking without splash into the water. It is propor- 

 tioned and weighted so that its flight, which is a long 

 fall, may be smooth, and perfectly under control. If 

 wings could be put to the minnow, it would somewhat 

 resemble the swallow. For the swallow is made to fall, 

 and his wings to catch him, and by resisting his descent 

 these outstretched planes lift him again into the sky. 

 He does not fall perpendicularly, the angle of his fall is 

 prolonged and very low, and the swifter he goes the 

 more nearly it approximates to the horizontal. I think 

 he goes swifter when flying just over the ground than 

 when lounging in the easy hammock of the atmosphere. 

 My swallow that came down the lane, in twenty yards 

 opened his wings twenty times and checked his fall, almost 

 grazing the earth, and imperceptibly rose a little, like a 

 flat stone thrown by a boy which suddenly runs up into 

 the air at the end of its flight. He made no blow with 

 his wings ; they were simply put out to collect the air in 

 the hollow of their curves, and so prolong his fall. Falling 

 from morn till night, he throws himself on his way, 

 a machine for turning gravity into a motive force. He 

 fits to the circumstances of his flight as water fits to the 

 circumstances of the vessel into which it is poured. No 

 thought, no stop, no rest. If a waggon had been in the 

 way, still he would have got left or right through the very 

 eye of the needle. If a man had been passing, the rush of 

 his wings would not have disturbed the light smoke from 

 his cigar. Farther up the lane there are two gateways 

 opposite without gates. Through these swallows are con- 

 tinually dashing, and I have often felt when coming up the 

 lane as if I must step on them, and half checked myself. 

 I might as well try to step on lightning. A swallow 



