THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 149 
ance, and are not the least curious specimens in that 
wonderful collection of art and nature."* 
It is said that most birds have movements peculiar 
to the season of love : thus, the swallow sweeps over 
the surface of the ground and water, endeavouring, by 
his rapid turns and evolutions, to captivate some 
favourite fair. 
It is well known that the feathered race were 
particularly esteemed by the Greeks, almost every 
bird being consecrated to some god ; but those 
which were not so dedicated were, nevertheless, hal- 
lowed and associated in the pleasing change in the 
seasons. At Rhodes, the swallow was greeted in 
songs as the harbinger of spring. Troops of children 
were to be seen carrying this bird from house to 
house, chanting their simple ditty, and receiving 
provisions in return for the amusement they im- 
parted. 
* Sir Asliton Lever's museum. 
