Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/449



There is a pleasure known but to few, a pleasure which I have of- ten enjoyed and still enjoy, whenever an opportunity occurs. It is when the heats of summer have already swelled the fruits of our fields, our gardens, and our orchards ; when Nature herself benignantly smiles on the rich scenery which she has thus embellished; when the husbandman guides the healthful labours of his sons, and wields the instruments of his humble but important calling from the early <lawn to the noon- tide hour of repose ; when the bee herself for a while retires from the honeyed flower, which now languishingly droops on its tender stem ; when the cattle recline beneath the broad shade of some majestic tree, and the labourers retire to the banks of some favourite brook to enjoy their frugal meal, and quench their thirst from the limpid waters. Now all is silent, sweet sleep closes their eyes, and nature seems to pause in her labours. But no sooner have the meridian hours passed, than all re- turn to their occupations, and again every thing is full of life and ac- tivity.

Observe that passing Swallow, how swiftly she glides around us, how frequently she comes and goes, how graceful her flight, how pleasant her musical twitterings, how happy she seems to be ! Now she has again entered the bam. I will follow her into her summer abode, and laying myself down on the fragrant new-mown hay, watch her motions in silence. Ah ! over my head a nest is firmly fixed to each rafter ; nay on this and that are placed several, and the barn is filled with swallows and their melodies. Happy and charming little creatures ! There a female sits on her eggs, and is receiving a store of insects from the mouth of her mate. Having fed her, he solaces her with a soft chattering voice, and away he goes in search of more food. Here is another nest filled to the brim with young birds trimming their new clothing, and shaking their little wings, while their parents approach with a supply of food. See how they open their yellow throats ! There, howbusily are these two birds occupied in stick- ing layer after layer of damp sandy earth mixed with bits of grass against