SWALLOW-TIME. 99 
for pike. Before the bend of the firmly elastic rod, the 
leaded minnow slides out through the air, running true 
and sinking without splash into the water. It is propor- 
tioned and weighted so that its flight, which is a long 
fall, may be smooth, and perfectly under control. If 
wings could be put to the minnow, it would somewhat 
resemble the swallow. For the swallow is made to fall, 
and his wings to catch him, and by resisting his descent 
these outstretched planes lift him again into the sky. 
He does not fall perpendicularly, the angle of his fall is 
prolonged and very low, and the swifter he goes the 
more nearly it approximates to the horizontal. I think 
he goes swifter when flying just over the ground than 
when lounging in the easy hammock of the atmosphere. 
My swallow that came down the lane, in twenty yards 
opened his wings twenty times and checked his fall, almost 
grazing the earth, and imperceptibly rose a little, like a 
flat stone thrown by a boy which suddenly runs up into 
the air at the end of its flight. He made no blow with 
his wings ; they were simply put out to collect the air in 
the hollow of their curves, and so prolong his fall. Falling 
‘from morn till night, he- throws himself on his way, 
a machine for turning gravity into a motive force. He 
fits to the circumstances of his flight as water fits to the 
circumstances of the vessel into which it is poured. No 
thought, no stop, no rest. If a waggon had been in the 
way, still he would have got left or right through the very. 
eye of the needle. If aman had been passing, the rush of 
his wings would not have disturbed the light smoke from 
his cigar. Farther up the lane there are two gateways 
opposite without gates. Through these swallows are con- 
tinually dashing, and I have often felt when coming up the 
lane as if I must step on them, and half checked myself. 
I might as well try to step on lightning. A swallow 
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