32 
A SUMMER DAY'S OCCUPATIONS. 
neighbour in all the pride of his glorious song ; or listens for a while 
to the tender notes of his beloved mate, still sitting on her " pearly 
egglets " in their tiny nest. Now let us follow him to the open fields. 
On every blade and leaf sparkles the diamond dew, while the hill-side 
shines in the splendour of the sun like a golden shield. The hus- 
bandman watches with pleasure the airy gyrations of the swallows, 
for he knows they betoken a continuance of fair weather. Mjo-iads 
of insects are now abroad, in search of food, like their feathered 
destroyers, and wheeling lightly in tlie calm, fragrant air. Down 
upon them swoops a swift-winged swallow, and one after another 
falls a victim to her ready bill. She seems to use hardly any exertion 
in this foray ; for all her movements, upwards or downwards or side- 
ways, are performed with graceful ease, and she sweeps along like 
a flash of light. How many circuits she makes in the hour are not 
to be determined, but they must needs be very numerous, since her 
rate of travelling is a mile a minute. 
Now towards the sandy margin of lake or river she betakes 
herself; and alighting, hops forward with delicate steps, takes a 
few drops of the cool water, plumes her wings, and then returns 
to her nest, on tlie way filling her wide mouth with insects. Or 
should her nest be still unfinished, or in want of some repair, she 
carries a pellet of tempered earth in her bill, or picks up a feather 
that has fallen from goose or fowl, or from the hayrick removes a stalk 
of grass to mix with the mortar. As the heat becomes a burden 
and a weariness to the lowing cattle, she passes and repasses them 
where they have gathered under the umbrageous trees, and seizes 
upon each vexatious insect. For a while she perches by the side 
of her offspring on the slender branch of a convenient elm, pluming 
and chattering and taking her rest, until she once more launches 
into the air, unwilling to lose the summer sunshine. 
But the summer sunshine gives way at length to the mists of 
autumn, and the swallows, young and old, assemble at a previously 
concerted rendezvous, and discuss the necessity of departure for 
climes where Avinter's frown is all unknoAvn. The chatter becomes 
general, and is repeated day after day with increased vigour. We 
