54 SWALLOWS. 



others, a fact, of which the following account, from an 

 eye-witness, is a proof: A couple of Swallows built 

 their nest in a stable; the female laid her eggs, and 

 was observed to continue motionless beyond the 

 time of hatching, while the male fluttered about, or 

 occasionally settled on a projecting nail, uttering 

 plaintive notes, which induced some persons at 

 length to examine the nest, when the female was 

 found to be dead; she was accordingly thrown 

 away. The male then went to sit upon the eggs, 

 but after remaining about two hours, flew off, and 

 in a short time returned with another female, which 

 sat upon the eggs, and afterwards hatched and fed 

 the young ones, till they were able to provide for 

 themselves *. 



* Forster's Travels in North America. 



