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OUK HOME BIKDS. 
tribe feel the genial influence and make bolder flights. 
At such times the swallow follows them in their aerial 
journeys, and often rises to imperceptible heights in 
the pursuit. When the weather is likely to be stormy 
the insects feel the first notices of it ; and from the 
swallows flying low we are often apprised of the 
approaching change/ So you see that these little 
birds are a sort of barometer ; and it is from watch- 
ing such signs as these that many elderly people in 
the country get to be what is called ‘ weather-wise/ 
“ Some one speaks of our missing the swallow 
tribe if by any chance they should disappear from 
the country, because they are of real consequence to 
us as the destroyers of myriads of gnats, flies, and 
other troublesome insects. Some idea of their use- 
fulness may be formed from the fact that they begin 
the business of fly-catching at three o’clock on a 
summer morning, and keep it up until nine in the 
evening. Occasionally, they stop to rest themselves 
and take a little ‘ sing/ They delight in warm and 
sunny situations, probably because flies are abundant 
there ; and Shakespeare says, 
1 Where they do bide and build 
The air is temperate.’ 
“ ‘ It is delightful to see them as they sail over the 
meadows or skim along the surface of the grassy 
