332 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



with the spring, and leaving us in autumn for 

 warmer lands. The Swift is, as Bishop Mant has 

 described it, the latest in arriving. Writing on 

 the month of April, he says : — 



" The threefold tribe of swallows haste 

 In thy first days, or ere to waste 

 Thy midmost course has run. Nor fails 

 He of the pinion's broadest sails 

 To track their path, their brother Swift 

 More late to come, 



More prompt to quit his summer home 

 Is he of all the fork-tail'd race, 

 As if his wintry dwelling-place. 

 Hard by the stormy Cape, or far 

 In regions of the Eastern star. 

 Forbade across the tedious way, 

 Or quick approach, or lengthen'd stay." 



The value to man of the services performed by 

 insectivorous birds, has been mentioned on an 

 earlier page, and to no birds do we owe more 

 gratitude for these uses, than to the swallow tribe. 

 The rapid flight, the determined vigour with which 

 these birds piu'sue the winged insects, render them 

 the most successful destroyers of a race which else 

 would injure our crops, our gardens, our orchards, 

 our green fields, and that, if left untouched for 

 the summer's day, would, in the night, eat vege- 



