Litchfield enquirer., 1857-02-19
EDwARD c. GOODWIN, Editor and Publisher
Cuyier and the Swallows.

attention to the study of natural history Whil young, and in want, he was engaged as tuto
 to the children of the Count de Horcy, ant
 with his pupils inhabited an old cha .eau in tn
 Pays de Caus at Fquauvillc. luvier's room looked towards the garden, and early eacl morning he was accustomed to open his window , and breathe the fresh air before commencin: tue instruction of his somewhat undisciplnet , pupils. One morning he remarked two swal lows building a nest iu the outer angle of hi small easement. Tbc male bird brought mois clay in his beak, whnh the hen, as it were kneaded together, and with the addition 0 straws and bits of hay, formed their futEr, home. Once the framework was completed both birds hastencd to line the interior witt feathers, wool, and dried leaves and thel taking flight together into nriyhberi.,g wood they did not returi to their nest until after the lapse of several days Meantime some impor tant events had happened. While the two swallows were so husily employed in construct ing their home, Cuvitr had remarked two spar rows rcrched on a neighboring chimney, whc seemed 10 watch the progress of affairs with much curiosity. The trcachcrons object Of this surveillance speedily became apparent; for nc sooner had the ooor swallows left tue coas, clear than the pair of sparrows took posSesS:o of the nest, and established themselves in i: as comfortably as though it had been their OWL property. Cuvier remarked that they never abseuted themselves together from the nest one always remained on the watch, with it's sturdy bill Irotrudcd through the entrance, prepared to exclude every visitor except its mate.
 At the honeymoon the riyhtful owaers re- turned. What was their surprise to find their s,cst Irc occupied? The cock flew indignantly against his dwelling, to eXnr the iHtriderS, but Was met by the formidable bcak of thr gale sparrow, which quickly rrpulscd the u,- lucky proprietor with bleeding head and ruff fed feathers Trembling with rage and shame, and his bright eye tlarting fire he returned to his bride, pcrched on green beagh, and seemed for some moments to hold an anxious col!oquy with Ter. Then they took flight to- gether, and soon disappeared
 Presently the hrn-sparrow returned. and he. husband began, as Cuvcr co'jcctured to, give ! her an animated account of his adventure, ac- companyirg the recital with certain curious little cries, which might well pass for der,svc laughter. Be that as it may, the prudent pair did not waste much time in chattcring, but hastcned out iu turns U coll, ct and Storc up a qnant.ty Of provisions. Tiis accomplished, they both remained within, and HOW tUo stout l"a&s wrrcplacrd ready to defend the entrance. Cres re sounded in the air crowds of swallows began to assemble on the roof Cuvicr recog- l niz"d in the midst of them the expelled housr- holders making their wrongs known to each {, fresh arrival
 Ere long. there were assembled in full con tlave upwards of two .lundrcl swallows. While l they were chattrring in a style that fuii- ri- vailed tue performances of many speakers in more amp tiouS and celebrated me- ting> cry of distress Was heard rom one of the window Sill> A young swallow, tired 10 dou'.t of the i lang parliamentary debate !:ac hrtakcn him self tr the pursuit of some flies who were bug. z'ng nhout the wdow. Cuvicr's pupils had placed q snare on the sill. and the poor little hird fannd one of his slender legs entanyIed by the cruel horse hair.
 Al the cry Of tho captive abont twenty o' 1 his brethren flew towards him. and tried to set him free hut in vain. Each effort only served to tighten his bonds, and SO increase his paius Suddenly the swallows, as if with one consent took flight, and wheeling in the air, came one by one and gave sharp peck at the snare which, after repcatt pulls, snapped in two and the freed bird flew joyously away with his kind companions. During this scene, whicl passed within frw yards of Cuvier, at abou, the same distance as the usurped nest, the tn tor remained motioncss, and the two sf,arrnws never once stirred their threatening protrudrC bcaks
 Suddenly, and swift as thought, flew a host of swallows against the nest |: each had hi. bill filled with mud, which tc discharged against the entrance, aud then gave place tt anathcr, who repeated the same manruvrc This they managed to accomplish wtilc two inches distant from the nest so as to keep ou of reach of the bcleaguerrd sparrows Indeed the latter were so effrctua'lv blinded 1y th, first discharge of mud that they no longc thought of defendinr themselves Meautm, the swallows continued to heap anud on thu nest, nmtl it was completely covered th' opening would have been quite chokeil up bu for the desperate efforts made by the s,r,rrows who by several .couvu!SMe shocks ce.,trived I: shake off some of the pellets. But dctach ment of the impaoahle swallows perched o the nest and with their heaks aud claw smoothcd and pressed down the toug,' clay ove the efeiine aRd at length sncceedt q in closiu. it hermctcally. Then were heard from hun tlrrds of little throats cries of yengeance all. or victory
 But the swallows did not end Their wo,I
 herc. They hnsteueC to bring from all ,iree
 ''ons materials for d second nest. which the
 constructed over the blocked-up entrance of tn iirst one; and ia two hours after the rxectftio r or tne sparrows. the new nest was inLabite, - by the elected swallows.
 The inexoraide vengeance was now comrae s ted. Not only were the unfortunate snarrow doomed to expiate their crime by a lingern, r death, but they were forced during their to, s ments to listen to the execution During man idays the hen rarely quilted the nest she La