The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-25

BER 25, 1850.
CUvIER AND THE SWALLOWS.
In his later years the celebrated Cuvier loved to
count the incident which first turned his attention to
the study of natural history. While young and in
want he was engaged tutor to the children of the
Count &c Heircy, and with his pupils inhabited an
old chateau in the Pays du Caus, at Fiquainville.
Cnviers room looked towards the garden, and each
morning he was accustomed to open his window and
tions Of his somewhat undisciplined pupils One
morning he remarked that two swallows were build
ing nest in the other angle of his small case
ment The male bird brought clay in his beak.
which the hen, as it were, kneaded together, and
with the addition of straws and bits Of hay, formed
their future home. Once the framework was COM
pleteG. both the birds hasened to line the interior
with feathers, wool and dried leaves and then taking
flight together into neighboring wood, they did not
return to their nest until after the lapse of several
days. Meanw 'iile some important events happened
While the two swallows were so busily employed in
constructing their home, Culver had remarked that
two sparrows perched on a neighbortng chimney,
who seemed to watch the progress of affairs with
much curiosity. The treacherous object Of this sur
! veillance speedily became apparent; for sooner
had the poor swallows left the clear than the
pair of took possession of the nest and
"oh sheu themselves 1T II as comIoItaoy ds thougn
it had been their own property. Cuvier remarked
that they never absented themselves together from
the nest; one always remained the watch, with its
sturdy bill protruded through the entrance, prepared
to exclude every visitor except its mate.
At the end Of the honeymoon the rightfnl owners
pre- occupied! The cock flew Indignantly against
his dwelling, expel the intruders, but met by
the formidable beak of the male sparrow, which
quickly repulsed the unlucky proprietor with bleed
ing head and ruf1ed feathers. Trembling with rage
and shame. and his bright eye darting fire, he
ned to his bride perched on green bough, and SEEM
ed for some moments to hold an anxious colloquy
with her. Then they took flight together and soon
disappeared.
Presently the hen.sparrow returned, and her hns-
band began, as Cuvier conjectured, to give her an
animated of his adventure accompanying the
recital with certain curious little cries. which might
we'll pass for dersive laughter. Be that as it may,
the prudent pair did spend much time in chatter
ing. but hastened ont in turns to collect and store up
a quantity of provisions. This accomplished, they
both remained within, and t,vo stout beaks
placed ready to defend the entrance Cries resound-
ed in the air; crowds of swallows began to assemble
on the roof. Cnver recognized in the midst of them
the expelled househoders making their wrongs known
to each fresh arrival.
Ere long. there were assembled in full conclave
upwards of two hundred swallows. While they
chattering in style that fully rivaed the per-
formances of many speakers in more ambitious and
celebrated meetings. cry Of distress heard from
one of the window sills. young swallow. tired no
doubt Of long parliamentary debate, had betaken him
self to the pursuit of some flies that were buzzing
the sill, and the poor little bird found one
of his slender legs entanged by the cruel horsehair
AT the cry of the captive, about twenty of his
brethren flew towards him. and tried to set him free,
hut in vain Every effort only served to tighten his
bonds, and increase his pain. Suddenly the swal
lows, If with consent, took flight and wheel
ing in the air, came one by one and gave sharp
peck at the snare, which after repeated pulls snap
ped in two. and the freed bird flew joyously away
with his companions. During this scene. which
passed within few yards of Cuvier, and at the
distance the usurped nest, the tutor remained mo-
tionless, and the two sparrows never stirred
their threatening protruded beaks.
Suddenly and swift thought flew a host of
swallows against the nest each had his bill filled
with mud, which he discharged against the entrance
and then gave place to another. who repeated the
same manoeuvre. This they managed to accomplish
while two inches from the nest to keep ont of
the reach Of the beleaguered sparrows. Indeed the
latter were effectually blinded by the first dis
charge Of mud that they longer thought of defend
ing themselves. Meantime the swallows continued
to heap mud on the nest. until it was completely
covered the opening would have been quite choked
up but for the desperate efforts made by the sparrows
who bv several convulsive shocks contrived to
shake off some of the pellets. But detachment Of
the impalcable swallows perched the nest and with
| their beaks and claws smoothed and pressed down
the tough clay over the opening, and at length
ceeded in closing it hermecally. Then were heard.
from hundreds of little throats cries of Vengeance and
Of victory!
But the swallows did not end their work here.
They hastened to bring from all directions materials
for second nest, which they constructed over the
blocked up entrance of the first one; and in hours
after the execution of the sparrows the nest was
inhabited by the elected swallows.
The inexorable vengeance was now completed. Not
only the unfortunate sparrows doomed to expi-
ate their crime by lingering death, but they were
forced during their torment to listen to the joyful song
of the two swallows, the of their execution.
During many days the hen rarely quilted her nest
she had laid six eggs, and while she was Matching
them her mate supplied her with insects for food.
At the end of fortnight. Cuvier remarked that the
cock busy all day. in bring ing enormous guam
tty of insects to his household and looking into the
nest, he six little yellow bills, all gaping wide
| for food. From that time it became a constant
of pleasure to the tutor to watch the progress
sive development Of the little family. Their yell
low beaks became black and shining, their downy
bodies were covered with smooth ard elegant plum
age, and they began to accompany their mother in
her short excursions from the nest The cock taught
his children how to seize their prey in the air; how
to fy when the atmosphere was calm, and the flies
disported themselves in the upper regions and how
to keep near the ground when the storm was ap.
preaching; for then all insects seek shelter.
| Thus passed the summer, and autumn came
| Crowds of swallows once more assembled on the
roof of the Chatau de Fquanville. They held their
regular conversations, and Cuvier amused himself
with trying to interpret their language. The chill.
dren of the nest were placed in the midst of the
troop with the other young swallows and morn
ing took flight simultaneously, and directed thei
course toward the east. In the following spring