

OTHER NEIGHBORS IN THE TREES. 235 



them the expelled householders making their wrongs known 

 to each fresh arrival. 



5. Ere long there were assembled in full conclave up- 

 ward of two hundred swallows. While they were chatter- 

 ing in a style that fully rivaled the performances of many 

 speakers in more ambitious and celebrated meetings, aery 

 of distress was heard from one of the window-sills. A 

 young swallow, tired, no doubt, of the long parliamentary 

 debate, had betaken himself to the pursuit of some flies 

 who were buzzing about the window. Cuvier's pupils had 

 placed a snare on the sill, and the poor little bird found 

 one of its slender legs entangled by the cruel horse-hair. 



6. At the cry of the captive, about twenty of his breth- 

 ren flew toward him, and tried to set him free ; but in vain. 

 Each effort only served to tighten his bonds, and so in- 

 crease his pain. Suddenly the swallows, as if with one 

 consent, took flight, and, wheeling in the air, came one by 

 one and gave a sharp peck at the snare, which, after re- 

 peated pulls, snapped in two, and the free bird flew joyously 

 away with his kind companions. During this scene, which 

 passed within a few yards of Cuvier, and at about the same 

 distance • as the usurped nest, the tutor remained motion- 

 leas, and the two sparrows never once stirred their threat- 

 ening, protruded beaks. 



7. Suddenly, and swift as thought, flew a host of swal- 

 lows against the nest : each had his bill filled with mud, 

 which he discharged against the entrance, and then gave 

 place to another, who repeated the same manoeuvre. This 

 they managed to accomplish while two inches distant 

 from the nest, so as to keep out of reach of the beleaguered 

 sparrows. Indeed, the latter were so effectually blinded 

 by the first discharge of mud that they no longer thought 

 of defending themselves. Meantime, the swallows con- 

 tinued to heap mud on the nest, until it was completely 

 covered : the opening would have been quite choked up 



17 



