The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-08-29
| From GtamJer', Edinburgh Journal. !
CUIIER AND THE SWALLOWS.

In his late years, the celebrated Cuvier loved
TO recount the incident which first turned his at
'ention TO the stuiy OF natural history While
young. and in want, he was engaged as tutor TO
The children OF the Count de iieriey, and with
his pupils inhabited an old chateau in the PAYS
de Caus at Fiquainyiile Cnyer's room look ed
towards the garden, and ealiy each morning he
was accustomed 10 open his window and breathe
fhe fresh ali, before commencing the instruction
OF his somewhat undiscillned pupils One
morning he remarked two swallows building
nest in an outer angle OF his small easement The
male bird brought moist clay in his beak, which
the hen. as II were, hneaded together and, with
the addition of sraws and bits OF hay formed their
future home Once the frame work was com
pleted. both birds fastened 10 line the interior
with feathers, wool, and tiy leaves; and then
taking fight together into neghboring wood,
they did not return 10 their nest until after the
lapse Of several days Meantime some important
events had happened While the two swallows
were so bnsilY employed in constructing their
home, Cuvier had remarked two sparrows perch
ell on neghbcring chimney, who seemed 10
y afch the progress OF aiiairs with much curiosity
The hetreacherous object of this surveillance speed
iy became apparent for no sooner bad the poor
swallows lett the coast clear, than the pair Of
sparfoMs took possession OF the nest and estab-
ished Themselves in ii comfortably as though il
had been their own property. Cnvier remarked
that they never absented themselves together
from The nest one always remained Ss Sp TIE ne en-
with its sturdy bill n,~..~-.'se 'hfongh u'e eN
trance, prepo. ed to exclude every visitor excep,
its mate
At the end of The honey moon. the riehtlui
owners returned. What was their surprise TO
find their nest preoccuped! The cock flew in
dienaniy against bis dwelling, 10 expel the IN
tiuders, but was met By the formidable beak OF
The male sparrow, which qu;ckIy repulsed the
nuucky proprietor with bleeding head and rul-
fed feathers. Trembling with rage and shame.
aud his bright eve darting fire. he returned TO his
bride perched on green bough, and seemed Tor
some moments TO hold an anxious colloquy with
her Then they took flight together and soon dis
appeared.
Presently The hen-sparrow returned, and her
husband, as Cuvier conjectnred, gave her an ami
mated acc cunt Of his adventure, accompanying
the recital with certain cnsious little cries, which
might well pass for derisive laughter BE that
as it NAV, the prudent pair did not waste much
time in chatteIng but hastend out in turns 10
collect aud store up quantity Of provisions.
This accomplished, they both remained within,
and now two stout beaks were placed ready 10
defend the entrance. Cries resound d in the air,
crowds Of swallows began 10 assemble on the
roof Cuver recognized in the midst OF them
the expeiled house holders maAing their wrongs
known TO each fresh arrival.
Ere long, there assembled in full conclavr, up
wards Of two hundred swallows. While they
were chatte,ing in styl that falv rivalled the
performances Of many speakers in more ambitious
and celebrated me tings, cry OF distress was
heard from one of the window-sills. A young
swallow. tired no doubt of the Ion. parliamentary
debate, had betaken himself TO the pursuit OF
some flies VINO were bu2zing about the window
Cuviei.s pupils bad placed suate on he sill,
and the poor little bird found one oi hls slender
legs entangled BY the cruel horsehair.
Al the cry Of the cap've, about twenty OF his
brethren flew towards him, aud tried to.set hm
free; but in vain. Each effort only served 10
tighten his bonds, and so increase his pain. Sud-
denly the swallows, as il with one consent, took
fight, and wheeling in the air, came one by one
and gave a sharp peck at the snare, which, alter
repeated pulls snapped It IN Two and the t'e'a o"d
flew loyously away with his kind companions.
During this scene which passed within few
ards Of Cuvier, and about the same distance as
the usufped nest, the tutor remained mosioniess,
and the two sparfoNs never once sllrreu tneif
threatening protruded beaks.
| Suddenly, and swift as thought; flew host OF
swalows against the nest: each had his bill h,ied
with mad, which he discharged against the en-
trance, and then gave place to another, VINO re-
neatel the manonuyre. This they managed to
ace ON psh, while two inches distant from the
nest. so as Ia keep out Of reach OF the beeagured
spariows Indeed, the latter were so efiectualiy
blinded ty the first discharge of mud, that they
no longer defended themselves. Meantime the
sw waiows continued to heap mud on the nest un.
| til twas completely covered the opening wound
have been completely checked mp but for the
des perate efforts made by the sparrows, who by
several convulsive shocks contrived TO shake oil
some of,he pellets. But detachment OF the i'm
placable swallows perched on the nest, and with
their beaks and claws smoothed and pressed
down the tough clay over the opening, and at
length succeeded in closing it dramatically
Then were heard from hundreds OF little throats,
cries OF vengeance and victory!
| But the swallows did not end their work here.
They has,ened to bring from all directions, ma
terial fora second nest, which they constructed
over the blocked up entrance ofthe first one; and
in two hours after the execution of the sparrows,
The new nest was inhabited by the elected sWal-
| lows.