THE SWALLOW. 277 



" True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings." 



Richard III. Act v. Sc. 2. 



Those who have watched the swallows upon a dull 

 day, skimming low along the ground, and seeming 

 almost to touch it, although flying with speed as 

 undiminished as if high in air, will readily see the 

 aptness of the simile : — 



" And I have horse will follow where the game 

 Makes way, and run like swallows on the plain." 



Titus Andronicus, Act ii. Sc. 2. 



" The swallow follows not summer more willingly than 

 we your lordship, nor more willingly leaves winter ; such 

 summer-birds are men." — Timon of Athens, Act iii. Sc. 6. 



The swallow, although one of the earliest, is not 



always the first of our spring ornaments to appear. There 



are — 



" Daffodils, 



That come before the swallow dares, and take 



The winds of March with beauty." 



Winter's Tale, Act iv. Sc. 3. 



A near relative of this bird is the Martin, or, as 



it is called in the language of heraldry, the "Martlet" 



(Hirundo urbicd). 



"This guest of summer, 



The temple-haunting martlet, doth approve, 



By his lov'd mansionry, that the heaven's breath 



