5 3 1 MY GARDEN. 



such an altitude that they are scarcely visible by the naked eye, and 

 therefore are safe from gun-shot. From the experience which the late 

 war has afforded, pigeons, though the emblems of peace, may become 

 useful accessories in war. For two thousand years the pigeon has been 

 used as a letter-carrier. Shakspeare alludes to the circumstance of 

 pigeons being thus employed : 



" News, news from heaven ! 

 Marcus, the post is come." 



I have never seen the Goatsucker, or Nightjar (Caprimulgus euro- 

 pceus\ in or about my garden, although a few miles off the bird is 

 common in the same county, at Weybridge, where its silent flight 

 towards night is a very interesting feature. The Swift (Cypselus Apus, 



fig. 1146) abounds in our district. Its scream is very pleasing as it 

 dashes by, and nowhere is this observed more in perfection than at 

 Florence, where the continuous lines of birds which scream past the 

 window make such an impression on the ear as never to be forgotten. 



" To mark the swift in rapid giddy ring 

 Dash round the steeple, unsubdued of wing." 



GILBERT WHITE. 



The Sand Martin (Hirundo riparia, fig. 1147) may be seen skim- 

 ming over the lake, but it does not breed near to the garden. The 

 House Martin (Hirundo urbica, fig. 1148) is a constant visitor, and 

 is the most numerous of all the Hirundinae. 



"As swift as swallow flies." SHAKSPEARE. 



The Swallows (Hirundo rustica, fig. 1149) receive from us every 

 hospitality, and they build, on the rafters of our large summer-house. 



