SWALLOW.

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and leaves us in November. It has a bold gracefulnight, in easy curves, and long undulations, with a gentlewarbling song, and a call of "Whit, Ceep, Cheep." Itlays from four to six eggs. The ancient Rhodianswelcomed its advent with festival and song. A notiongenerally prevails that ill luck befals those who destroyits nest, the bird having been from Pagan times heldsacred to the household gods. Older naturalists snp-posed that swallows remain in this country duringthe winter, hybernating in the mud of ponds, and insuch other places.

Certain medicinal uses attach themselves to this bird.The New London Dispenmtory said : " Stones are found inthe ventricle of a young Swallow, about the bignessof pease, in the increase of the moon, or in Augustat the füll; if these be hung about the neck, or ty'd aboutthe arm, they eure the falling sickness in children."In some districts it is believed that if a Swallowlights upon a person's Shoulder it is a sure sign ofdeath. The nest is esteemed by people of Easterncountries as nutritious, and stimulating to the sexualfunetions, insomuch that these nests are articles ofcommerce. M. Payen shows that a glutinous alimentarysubstance forms generally the main part of such nests,and is a peculiar nitrogenous secretion, analogous toanimal mueus, and with sulphur included in its com-position. It is soluble, especially in hot water, andis named by the Professor, Cubilose.

There formerly existed a belief that the Swallowhas sometimes two precious stones in its stomach,a red one for curing insanity, and a black oneensuring good luck to its fortunate possessor. Tiedabout the neck in a yellow linen cloth they pre-vented fevers, and cured the jaundice. According