PERCHING BIRDS. 209 



hosts."* These birds are, accordingly, privileged ; 

 forbearance is shown towards them, and the boys 

 of England, though alas ! too often the} 7 heedlessly 

 inflict suffering on animals, will rarely disturb 

 their nests ; so that, although frequently seen 

 attached to low houses within easy reach, they 

 are generally suffered to hatch and depart in 

 safety. 



The ancients generally mention the swallow as 

 wintering in Africa. It seems to have been as 

 great a favourite with them as it is at the present 

 day. The Grecians welcomed its annual return 

 with gladness ; and the Bhodiang had a festival, 

 when the boys carried about young swallows, 

 singing a lively carol, which has been preserved 

 in the works of Meursius : 



*' He comes, he comes, who loves to bear 

 Soft sunny hours, and seasons fair ; 

 The swallow hither comes to rest 

 His sable wing, and snowy breast." 



This song the troops of Khodian children sang in 

 chorus, from door to door, collecting little gifts in 

 return : a pleasing custom. 



There seems to be scarcely any portion of the 

 known world in which swallows are not found in 

 certain seasons of the year, and almost everywhere 

 they have their stated periods of migration and 



* Ps. Ixxxiv. 3. 



p 



