114 THE SWALLOW 



dies is " The Swallow." In two of them her 

 forked tail, you will notice, is compared to a 

 pair of scissors — perhajss an echo of some 

 of the legends. 



A Greek riddle runs : — 



Needle in front, 

 Scissors behind, 

 Black as a monk on top, 

 White as cotton beneath — 

 What is it ? 



From Roumania come the next two : — 



What is that which has a head like a 

 woman, and a tail like a fork ? 



Now on high. 

 Now down low, 

 It is black. 

 And not a cat. 



The Portuguese children ask one another : — 



What is that, 



Which does not belong here. 



Eats and drinks here. 



Sleeps here. 



Yet doesn't live here ? 



Another Portuguese riddle describes the 

 little bird thus : — 



