124 MAY 



stuff their untidy straws, bents, string, stuff, feathers, and 

 what not into the damaged mud walls. At this point in 

 the conflict the owner returned and was disappointed to 

 discover no trace of the migrants, which in the past have 

 been singularly punctual to date. So the pleasure was all 

 the greater when at last, on April 28, one swallow was 

 seen, and it proved to be the right swallow, the very same 

 bird that had brought up several broods in the nest last 

 year. She was easily recognised by two distinctive 

 points of white on the tail feathers. The pleasure did not 

 seem to be shared by this swallow herself, she was all 

 alone ; and a child looking at her said, with the sym 

 pathetic insight of which some children are capable, 

 &quot; How miserable she looks. Do you think she has lost 

 her husband on the journey ? &quot; 



The explanation seemed not unlikely ; but the swal 

 low s cheerful friendliness soon came back. On May i 

 her gloom had departed ; she had found a mate and the 

 two at once betook themselves to the old shed. The 

 sparrows had by this time been turned out along with 

 their rubbish by the offended owner ; and as the various 

 occupants of the relic nest had played havoc with the 

 luteum opus, with the mud walls, they were in part re 

 stored by human manipulation. The pair gladly accepted 

 the alien assistance, however clumsy in comparison with 

 their own work, and remained in occupation of an almost 

 completed home. They are as tame as robins, and quite 

 evidently regard the owner of the hut as a friend. It is 

 always interesting to have new proof, though none is 

 needed, that swallows love to return to the very same 

 home they left last year, and that they keep its memory 

 green, in spite of the intervals of time and space. For 

 this double journey was not likely to have been less than 

 5,000 miles. 



