236 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



but for the desperate efforts made by the sparrows, who 

 by several convulsive shocks contrived to shake oJ5E some of 

 the pellets. But a detachment of the implacable swallows 

 perched on the nest, and with their beaks and claws 

 smoothed and pressed down the tough clay over the open- 

 ing, and at length succeeded in closing it hermetically. 

 Then were heard from hundreds of little throats cries of 

 vengeance and of victory ! 



8. But the swallows did not end their work here. 

 They hastened to bring from all directions materials for a 

 second nest, which they constructed over the blocked-up 

 entrance of the first one ; and, in two hours after the exe- 

 cution of the sparrows, the new nest was inhabited by the 

 ejected swallows. Inexorable justice was now satisfied. 

 Not only were the unfortunate sparrows doomed to expiate 

 their crime by a lingering death, but they were forced 

 during their torments to listen to the joyful song of the 

 two swallows, the cause of their execution. 



Chambers's Journal. 



THE BIRD OF NIGHT. 



1. The owls are rapacious birds, and, in company with all 

 the true birds of prey, belong to the great order Raptores. 

 The order branches into two large groups, known, respec- 

 tively, as the diurnal and the nocturnal birds of prey. To 

 the Diurnes belong the vultures, hawks, and eagles ; to the 

 Nocturnes belong the owls. 



2. If Mrs. Malaprop can not see why the owl is a "rap- 

 turous bird," she can admit its claim to openness of coun- 

 tenance. Once seen, the owl can never be mistaken ; its 

 flat, pussy face, and large, brassy cat-eyes, set square in 

 front of the head, are so unbird-like. It was a London 



