20 



Instinct of Birds. 



Vol. VIII. 



offered it to his mate with the most graceful 

 and loving' air imaginable ; and when she 

 /ut up her mouth to take it, he poured forth 

 such a gnsh of gladsome sound ! It seemed 

 as if pride and affection had swelled his 

 heart, till it was almost too big for his little 

 bosom. The whole transaction was the 

 prettiest piece of fond coquetry, on both sides, 

 that it was ever my good luck to witne.^s. 



It was evident that the father bird had 

 formed correct opinions on " the woman 

 question ;" for during the process of incuba- 

 tion, he volunteered to perform his share of 

 household duty. Three or four times a day 

 would he, with coaxing twitterings, persuade 

 his patient mate to fly abroad for food ; and 

 the moment she lefl the eggs, he would take 

 the maternal station, and give a loud alarm 

 whenever cat or dog came about the premi- 

 ses. He certainly performed the office with 

 far less ease and grace than she did ; it was 

 something in the style of an old bachelor 

 tending a babe ; but nevertheless it showed 

 that his heart was kind, and his principles 

 correct, concerning division of labour. When 

 the young ones came forth, he pursued the 

 same equalizing policy, and brought at least 

 half the food for his greedy little family. 



But when they became old enough to fly, 

 the veriest misanthrope would have laughed 

 to watch their manoeuvres ! Such chirping 

 and twittering! Such diving down from 

 the nest, and flying up again! Such wheel- 

 ing round in circles, talking to the young 

 ones all the while ! Such clinging to the 

 sides of the shed with their sharp claws, to 

 show the timid little fledgelings that there 

 was no need of falling ! 



For three days all this was carried on with 

 increasing activity. It was obviously an in- 

 fant flying school. But all their talking and 

 fussing was of no avail. The little downy 

 things looked down, and then looked up, and 

 alarmed at the infinity of space, sunk down 

 into the nest again. At length the parents 

 grew impatient, and summoned their neigh- 

 bours. As I was picking up chips one day, 

 I found my head encircled with a swarm of 

 swallows. They flew up to the nest, and 

 jabbered away to the young ones ; they 

 clung to the walls, looking back to tell how 

 the thing was done ; they dived, and wheeled, 

 and balanced, and floated, in a manner per- 

 fectly beautiful to behold. 



The pupils were evidently much excited. 

 They jumped up on the edge of the nest, 

 and twittered, and shook their feathers, and 

 waved their wings ; and then hopped back 

 again, saying, "It's pretty sport, but we 

 can't do it." 



Three times the neighbours came in and 

 repeated their graceful lessons. The third 



time, two of the young birds gave a sudden 

 plunge downward, and then fluttered and 

 hopped, till they lighted on a small upright 

 log. And oh, such praises as were warbled 

 by the whole troup ! The air was filled 

 with their joy! Some were flying round, 

 swift as a ray of light; others were perched 

 on the hoe-handle and the teeth of the rake; 

 multitudes clung to the wall, atler the fash- 

 ion of their pretty kind ; and two were 

 swinging, in most graceful style, on a pen- 

 dant hoop. Never, while memory lasts, shall 

 I forget that swallow party ! I have frolicked 

 with blessed Nature much and often ; but 

 this, above all her gambols, spoke into my 

 inmost heart, like the glad voices of little 

 children ! That beautiful family continued 

 to be our playmates, until the falling leaves 

 gave token of approaching winter. For 

 some time, the little ones came home regu- 

 larly to their nest at night. I was ever on 

 the watch to welcome them, and count that 

 none were missinar. A sculptor might have 

 taken a lesson in his art, from those little 

 creatures perched so gracefully on the edg'e 

 of their clay-built cradle, fast asleep, with 

 heads hidden under their folded wings. Their 

 familiarity was wonderful. If I hung a gown 

 on a nail, I found a little swallow perched 

 on the sleeve. If I took a nap in the after- 

 noon, my waking eyes were greeted by a 

 swallow on the bed-post; in the summer 

 twilight, they flew about the sitting-room in 

 search of flies, and sometimes lighted on 

 chairs and tables. I almost thought they 

 knew how much I loved them. But at last 

 they flew away to more genial skies, with a 

 whole troop of relations and neighbours. It 

 was a deep pain to me, that I should never 

 know them from other swallows, and that 

 they would have no recollection of me. 



L. M. Child. 



Soda for washing. — We have been re- 

 quested by a correspondent, to publish the 

 following receipt for washing with sub-car- 

 bonate of soda : 



To five gallons of water, add a pint and a 

 half of soft soap, and two ounces soda. Put 

 tlie clothes, after soaking over night, into 

 the mixture at boiling heat, rubbmg the 

 parts most soiled with soap. Boil them one 

 hour; drain, rub and rinse them in warm 

 water; after being put into indigo water, 

 they are fit for drying. Half the soap and 

 more than half the labour, are saved by wash- 

 ing in this manner. — Michigan Farmer. 



The whiteness of ivory handled knives 

 may be restored by rubbing them with fine 

 sand paper, or emery. 



