intelligence, however, is by no means great; indeed, some species are unquestionably extremely deficient in this respect. So very various is the formation of the nests, and the number and appearance of the eggs of the different families into which this order is divisible, that we shall not attempt to mention them here, but will describe them with the group or species to which they belong. * * * * * SWALLOWS. The SWALLOWS (Hirundines) constitute the foremost family of this order, and are readily distinguished by their small, delicately-formed body, broad breast, short neck, and flat head; their beak is short, flat, broad at its base, and terminates in a slight hook; the gape is so wide as to extend as far as the eyes. These birds have no crop; their broad, flat, horny tongue is sharp at its edge, divided at its tip, and furnished with small tooth-like appendages towards its base. The feet are broad and feeble, the toes, three of which are placed in front, are very weak and the claws are slender. The wing is long, narrow, composed of nine quills, and sharply-pointed at its extremity; the tail forked, containing twelve feathers; those at the exterior often far exceeding the centre ones in length. The plumage is composed of small compact feathers, and frequently exhibits considerable metallic lustre. Both sexes are alike in colour, but the young differ somewhat from the adult birds. Swallows are found throughout every division of both hemispheres, and occupying every latitude, but they rarely breed and are far from numerous within the limits of the Polar regions. Such species as inhabit the torrid zones do not migrate, whilst those that visit comparatively cold countries go to warmer climes as winter approaches, quitting and returning to their native lands at the appointed period with such extraordinary regularity that the time of their appearance or departure may be calculated almost to a day. As regards their intelligence, these birds are far superior to most other members of the order. Their pleasing twitter may almost be termed a song, and their flight is distinguishable by an ease and rapidity that has rendered it proverbial. All Swallows bathe and drink whilst upon the wing. They subsist upon insect diet, which they obtain by darting upon their tiny victims with marvellous velocity as they skim through the air, and swallow them entire. They consume beetles and flies in enormous quantities, for their appetite is insatiable; but bees and wasps, or any insect armed with a sting, they never touch, as their wonderful instinct renders them fully aware that such morsels are not to be snapped at with impunity. Naumann mentions that having upon one occasion put a wasp into the beak of a young Swallow, the bird died almost immediately from the effects of the stinging it received whilst swallowing the insect. Some species form most artistic abodes with bits of clay consolidated by means of the glutinous