464 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the current by the fury of the gale. The rain drove in 

 misty sheets across the scene, always dimming and some- 

 times hiding the landscape l)eyond the trees at the edge of 

 the meadow. Hay, lum]:)er and a great variety of objects 

 came floating down the turbulent stream, with here and there 

 what appeared to be small islands covered with grass or 

 button bushes, which had been lifted by the flood from their 

 insecure moorings in meadow or swamp to l)e borne to new 

 locations nearer the river's mouth. Barn swallows could be 

 seen sweeping low along the waters, despite the high wind 



Barn swallows seeking food in the storm. 



and driving rain, seeking insects among the few grassy tufts 

 which still showed above the flood. 



Insects driven from the air by the rain and from the earth 

 by the flood had evidently crawled to the grass tops, and 

 there the swallows found them. So all day, until the rising 

 flood covered the last rush or grass blade, the swallows 

 labored in the storm to keep the breath of life in their bodies 

 or to feed their starving voung. A few blackbirds were 

 seen all the morning. Perhaps tlie flood had not yet reached 

 their nests, but the water rose steadiW, and a few days later 



