MOORLAND IDYLLS. 



weather, to be positively grateful for these 

 insectivorous tastes on the part of our 

 feathered fellow-citizens. We were sitting 

 on the verandah, much tried by a plague of 

 flies ; it was clear that " the blood of an 

 Englishman " attracted whole swarms of 

 midges and other unwelcome visitors. As 

 soon as the house-martins became aware of 

 this fact, they drew nearer and nearer to us 

 in their long curves of flight, swooping down 

 upon the insects attracted by our presence 

 before they had time to arrive at the 

 verandah. We sat quite still, taking no 

 notice of the friendly birds' manoeuvres ; till 

 after a while they mustered up courage to 

 come close to our faces, flying so low and 

 approaching us so boldly, that we might 

 almost have put out our hands and caught 

 them. I am aware, of course, that the 

 martins merely regarded us from the selfish 

 point of view, as fine bait for midges ; while 

 we in return were glad to accept their ser- 

 vices as vicarious flycatchers. But on what 



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