52 the swallow 



Why Swallows Build their Nests in 

 Windows 



A Legend of Brittany 



A mother swallow who was recovering 

 from a long illness, and who had been aban- 

 doned by her husband, went for three days 

 without food, so as not to cool the eggs 

 upon which she was sitting. Along came a 

 little mouse and asked if he might stay all 

 night. The swallow told him that he might 

 stay in the nest if he would promise to keep 

 the eggs warm. The little mouse then sat 

 on the eggs, but behold, when they were 

 hatched, out came some little bats ! When 

 the poor mother bird saw the ugly little 

 creatures she felt so badly that she died of 

 grief. Then all the swallows in the neigh- 

 borhood gathered around the little dead body.* 

 They greatly mourned the loss of their com- 

 panion, and after they had buried her they 

 took charge of the little orphans. Then the 

 Queen of the swallows decreed that because 



