64 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
to go ; Puss made a dash at it with her paw, but 
Master or Miss Swallow soared off in safety. Al- 
most immediately another saucy little bird whizzed 
by so closely as almost to touch her, and again Puss 
tried to seize it. About ten or a dozen went by in 
the same tantalizing way, and each one, as it passed 
in safety, seemed to set up a laugh at the disap- 
pointed cat, that sounded like the laugh of a young 
child when very much tickled. The whole company, 
succeeding one another at a distance of about three 
yards, formed a regular circle in the air, and played 
it off like a wheel at her ear for nearly an hour, not 
appearing in the least to notice the person who was 
watching them quite near. The birds enjoyed them- 
selves thoroughly until the cat, in disgust, got down 
from her post and departed.” 
“ I am so glad,” said Clara with a sigh of relief, 
“ that the old cat didn’t catch any of the dear little 
swallows !” 
“ ‘ The dear little swallows 9 deserved it, though,” 
replied Malcolm. “ How that cat must have been 
plagued !” 
“ The chimney swallow,” continued Miss Harson, 
“ is of a sooty-brown color, as might be expected 
from its contact with the inside of chimneys. It has 
even longer wings than the other swallows, and a 
peculiarly rapid, diving kind of flight. It goes on 
