lO 



THE SWALLOW 



she builds her nest not only in barns and 

 ruined buildings, but also in the chimneys, 

 and sometimes even inside the rude stone 

 houses of the peasants, or farm people of 

 the country districts. 



This swallow has a graceful and pretty 

 body. Her back is black and shiny, with 



deep violet reflections ; and her throat and 

 breast are tinged with dull red. Her wings 

 are long and pointed, tail forked, clavs/s 

 very short and weak, and eyes tiny, bril- 

 liant black, and keen to spy an insect a 

 long way off. She is almost always on 

 the wing and darts about very swiftly and 



