No matter. Let the creatures manifest never 

 so slight a friendliness for him, let them claim 

 never so little of his protection, and the good 

 rector's heart went out toward them as it might 

 toward children of his own. 



But the swallows were White's fondest care. 

 He and his hirundines were inseparable. He 

 thought of them, especially those of the chim- 

 ney, as members of his household. One can de- 

 tect almost a father's interest and joy in his 

 notes upon these little birds. Listen to the 

 parent in this bit about the young in Letter 

 XVIII. They are just out of the chimney. 



"They play about near the place where the 

 dams are hawking for flies ; and when a mouthful 

 is collected, at a certain signal given, the dam and 

 the nestling advance, rising toward each other, 

 and meeting at an angle ; the young one all the 

 while uttering such a little quick note of grati- 

 tude and complacency that a person must have 

 paid very little regard to the wonders of nature 

 that has not often remarked this feat." 



Has anything been written about our swift 

 showing as faithful and sympathetic observation 

 as that ? No. He comes and goes without any 

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