THE SWALLOW. 



Interesting anecdotes. 



male was found dead in the nest ; and the people 

 flung her body away. The male then went to sit 

 upon the eggs; but after being about two hours 

 on them, and perhaps finding the business too 

 troublesome, he went out, and returned iu the 

 afternoon with another female, which sat upon 

 the nest, and afterwards fed the young ones till 

 they were able to provide for themselves." 



At Camerton Hall, near Bath, a pair of swal- 

 lows built their nest on the upper part of the 

 frame of an old picture, over the chimney-piece ; 

 entering through a broken pane in the window 

 of the room. They came three years successively ; 

 and in all probability would have continued to 

 do so, had not the room been put in repair, which 

 prevented their access to it. 



Another pair was known to build for two years 

 together, on the handles of a pair of garden 

 shears, that were stuck up against the boards in 

 an out-house ; and therefore must have had their 

 nest spoiled whenever the implement was wanted : 

 and what is still more strange, a bird of the same 

 species built its nest on the wings and body of 

 .an owl, that happened by accident to hang dead 

 and dry from the rafter of a barn, and so loose 

 as to ]>e moved by every gust of wind. This owl, 

 with, the nest on its wings, and with eggs in the 

 nest, was brought as a curiosity to the museum of 

 Sir Ashton Lever. That gentleman, struck with 

 the oddity of the sight, furnished the bringer with 

 a. large shell, desiring him to fix it just w here the 

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