Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-08
From Chambers Journal
TTUTH C1Id1IUtTs JUUIHdI'
CUVIER AND TEE SWAL-
LOWS,

In his later years the celebrated Cuvier loved
to recount the incident which first turned his at
tention to the study of natural history. While
young, and in want, he was engaged as tutor to
the children of the Count de Hericy, and with
his pupils inhabited an old chateau in the Pays
du Caus, at Fiquai nville. Cuviers room looked
towards tho garden. and early ...-.ss..v.
was accustomed to open his window and breathe
| the fresh ar before commencing the instruction
of his undsciplined pupils. One morning he
remarked two swallows building a nest in the
outer angle of his small easement. The male
bird brought moist clay in his beak which the
hen, as it were, kneaded together, and, with the
addition of straws and bits of hay, formed their
pleted, both binds hastened TO line the interior
with feathers, wool and dried leaves and then
taking flight together into a nelghboring wood,
they did not return to their nest until after the
lapse of several days. Meantime some inpor-
tant events had happened While the two swal-
lows were so busily employed in constructing
their home, Cuvier had remarked two sparrows
perched on a neighboring chimney, who seemed
to watch the progress of affairs with much Curl
osity. The treacherous object of this survei-
lance speedily became apparent; for no sooner
had the poor swallows left the coast clear, than
the pair Of sparrows took possession of the nest,
and established themselves in it as comfortably
as though it had been their own property. Gu
ver remarked that they never absened them
selves together from the nest; one always re-
manned on the watch, with its sturdy bill pro-
truded through the entrance, prepared to ex-
cude everything except its mate.
At the end of the honeymoon the lightful
owners returned. What was their surprise to
find ther nest pre-. occupied The cock flew n-
dignanty against his dwelling to expel the in
truders, but was met by the formidable bcak of
the male sparrow, which quickly repulsed the
unlucky proprietor with bleeding head and
ruff1ed feathers. Trembling with rage and
shame, and his bright eye darling fire, he return
ed to his bride, perched on green bough, and
seemed for some moments to hold an anxious
coloquy with her. They then took flight to-
gether, and soon disappeared.
Presently the hen-sparow returned, and her
husband began, as Cuvier conjectured, to give
her an animated account of his adventure, ac-
companying the recital with certain curious lit.
tic cries, which might well pass for derisive
laughter, Be that as it may, the prudent pair
did not waste much time in chattering, but has
tened out in turns to collect and store up guam
tty of provisions. This accomplished, they
both remained within, and now t,0O stout beaks
were placed ready to defend the entrance -
Cries resounded in the air; crowds of swallows
began to assemble on the roof Cuver recog-
nized in the midst Of them the expelled house
holders making their wrongs known to each
fresh arrival.
Ere long, there were assembled in full con-
clave upward of two hundred swallows. While
they were chattering in style that fully rival
led the performances of many speakers in more
ambitious and celebrated meetings, cry of
distress was heard from one of the window-sills.
young swallow, tired, no doubt, Of the long
parliamentary debate, had betaken himself to
the pursuit of some flies who were buzzing l..
bout the window. Cuver's pupils had placed a
snare on the sill, and the poor little bird found
one of his slender legs entangled by the cruel
horse hair.
At the cry of the captive, about twenty of his
brethren flew towards him, and tried to set him
free but in vain. Every effort only served to
tighten his bonds, and so increase his PAIN
Suddenly the swallows, as If with one consent
look flight, 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 ioyously away with his kind COM
panions. During this scene, which passed with