THE

SWALLOWS.

"What are you looking at so attentively, Charles," said Mrs. Long to her son Charles, who was earnestly gazing from an open window.

“I am watching two swallows, mamma, that have been

flying backwards and forwards for the last quarter of an hour. Do come and look at them; they cling for a moment to the eaves, and then they dart off, over the fields and trees. They never stop to eat, for an instant."

"There is no need of their resting to eat, Charles," said Mrs. Long; "they can easily catch winged insects as they

fly, their mouths open so wide. They have probably destroyed hundreds of insects, during the time you have been at the window."

"Well, that is strange !" said Charles; "I have watched them as attentively as I could, and I have not seen them open their beaks once." "No, because the motion of seizing the insect is so

quick; but if you were sufficiently near, you would hear the loud snap which the bill makes in closing."

"Why do the swallows return so often to the eaves of the house; do you think they'll build there?" inquired Charles.

"I think they probably may, my dear," answered his "but not for some mamma,

days to come. These birds appear to me to have only just arrived from warmer cli

mates, at least I have not ob

served any window swallows

before this year; and I believe most of the swallows spend several days in sporting and playing about, before they begin to build their nests for their young."

"But, mamma," said Charles,