The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-08-20

Ere long, there were assembled in full
conclave, upwards of two hundred swallows
While they were chattering in style that
fully rivalled the performance of many speak
ers in more ambitious ard celebrated meet
ings, cry of distress was heard from one Of
the window-sills. A young swallow, tired
no doubt of the long parliamentary debate,
had betaken himself 10 the pursuit of some
flies who were buzzing about the window.
Cuviers pupils had placed a snare on the
sill and the poor bird found one Of his slen-
der legs ontanged by the cruel horse hair.
Al tho cry of the captive, about twenty Of
his brethren flew towards him, and tried 10
set him free but in vain. Each effort only
served to tighten his bonds, and to increase
his pain. Suddenly the swallows, as if with
one consent. took fight, and wheeling in the
air, came one by one and gave a sharp peck
at the snare, which, after repeated pulls,
snapped in two, and the freed bird flew Joy
ously away with his kind companions. Du-
ring this scene, which passed within few
yards Of Cuvicr, and about the same distance
as the usurpcd ncet, the tutor remained mo-
tionlcss. and the two sparrows never once
stirred their threatening prolruding beaks.
Suddenly, and swift as thought flew hos!
of swallows agains, the nest; each had his
bill filed with mud, which he discharged a.
gainst the entrance, and then gave place to
another, who repeated The same maEGuvre.
This they managed TO accomplish while
two inches distant from the nest, so as to
Keep out Of reach Of the beleagured spar
rows. Indeed, the latter were so eh'cctually
blinded by the first discharge Of mld, that
they no longer thought of defending them
selves. Meantime the swallows continued
to heap mud on the nest, uaiil it was COM
pletely covered the openings would have
been completely choked up but for the des-
peratc efforts made by the sparrows, who by
several convulusivc shocks contriyed to shake
oil some Of the pellets. But detachment
Of impacablc swallows perched on the nest
and with their beaks and claws snoohed and
pressed down the tough clay over the open
ing. and at length succeeded in closing il
hermciically. Then were heard from bun
lrcds OF little throats cries of vengeance and
victory.
But the swallows did not end their work
here. They hastened TO bring from all d
rcctons materials for a second nest, whicl
they constructed over the blocked up en-
trance of the first one and in two hours at
ter the exec Iion Of the sparrows, the new
nest was inhabited by the rejected swal
lows.
The inexorablc vengeance was now CON
pleted. Not only were the unfortunate spar
rows doomed 10 expiale their crime by lin
g r ng death, ,butthey were forced u M thei
torments TO listen to the JOYFUL songs Of th
two swallows, the cause Of their execution
During many days the hen rarely quitteC
her nest; she had laid six eggs, and whil'
she was batching them, her mate supplied
her with insects for food. At the end of
fortnight Cuvier remarked that the cock wa
busy all day in bringing an enormous quan
r tty Of insects to his household and lookin!
= into the nest saw six little yellow bills al
gaping wide for food From that time it be
came constant source Of pleasure to the tu
tor 10 watch the progressive development o
l the little family. Their yellow became
E black and shining, their downy bodies were
? covered with smoothe and elegant plumage
and they began to accompany their mother
in her short excursions from the nest The
cock taught her children how to seize theii
prey in the air how to fly high when the
= atmosphere was calm and the flies disportet
themselves in the upper regions; ard how
to keep near the ground when a storm wa
approaching, for then all insects seek a shell
{ ter.
Thus passed summer, and autumn came
Crowds Of swallows once more assembled OIL
the roof Of the Chateau dc Fiquainville
J They held regular conversations, and Cuyici
, mued himself with trying to interpret lheii
! language. The children of the nest wer,
, placed in the midst of toe troop with the 9th
cr Young swallows; and one morning III,
whole assembly took flight simultaneously ly
; and directed their course towards the east
In tho following spring, two swallows, lean
and with ruflled feathers, came and tool
possession of the nest. Cuvier Immediately
recognized they were the same identica
birds which he had watched with so mucl
interest during tho preceding year. They
began te repair their dwelling, and to STOP
the chnks produced by the winters frost
they refined the interior with soft dried moss
and feathers, and then, as in the previou:
season, set out for an excursion.
The morning after their return, as they
were gaily pursuing their prey close to Gu
yier's window, as they were now quite tame
ard accustomed 10 his presence, hawk thai
was soaring in the air pounced suddenly ON
le cock. He struck him with his talons
aud was bearing him off, when Cuvier fired
at him with fowling piece, which happened
luckily to be at hand. The brigand fell in
to the garden mortally wounded, and Gu
yier fastened 10 relieve his poor little friend
The swallow WAS seriously wounded the
hawks talon's had deeply pierced his sides,
and grain or two of shot had grazed his
breast. and broke one wing. The kind
Young man dressed his wounds with all pos
sibe care and tenderness, and then with The
assistance of ladder, replaced him in his