94 



THE SWALLOW 



v^ ^,j 



low, skimming the shining surfaces of ponds 

 and the waving fields of grain. Then, when 

 the first cool winds of autumn chilled the 

 air, they saw her ^ gather her family- 



together and fly away to some 



■'- -v- ^ '' unknown land. 



As a result of this com- 

 panionship, curious beliefs 

 and omens have sprung up 

 l(BK and flourished in many lands. The 

 gypsies of Hungary, perhaps be- 

 cause of the bird's ceaseless chatter, 

 relate that the first two swal- 

 lows in the world were once 

 upon a time a quarrelsome man 

 and his wife, who passed all 

 their days in bitter disputes 

 over their children. For this 

 sin they were at last changec^ 

 into chattering swallows. 



Other beliefs are more pleas- 

 ing. The Chinese claim that 

 * the birth of one of their myth- 



