Charles. Can they catch them as they fly?
Mrs. Mansfield. Yes, my dear. Their mouths are made large that they may take in their prey the more easily; and indeed, every part of the swallow is wonderfully adapted to its nature and manner of living.
Arthur. How do you mean, grandmamma?
Mrs. Mansfield. As in pursuit of insects it is necessary for them to be almost constantly on the wing, their bodies are very light and small; and the wings being long in proportion, they fly with great ease and swiftness. This is more particularly needful to them, because they are birds of passage; that is, they go to different countries according to the season of the year. They come over here in large flocks about the middle of April; and in October they assemble again in great numbers, and fly across the sea to some warmer climate. They make their nests with clay, and line them with feathers and soft grass, and build them chiefly a little way down the tops of chimneys, or under the eaves of houses. As they have little occasion to be upon the ground, their legs are short and ill adapted for walking.
“Your observation, my dear,” said Mr. Mansfield, “that swallows are formed in the best manner possible for their habits of life, is perfectly just; but it should not be confined to them. The God of Nature has equally adapted every other kind of bird, and, I may add, every animal, to the state for which he designed it.”
Arthur. Has he, indeed, grandpapa! I wish you would tell me about them, then. I should like you should give me an account of every creature that lives.
Mr. Mansfield. Oh, my dear! I am much too ignorant of Natural History to be able to do that. Indeed, I know very little of it; but the more I read and the more I observe, the greater reason I see to admire the wonderful goodness and wisdom of the Almighty.
At this instant, Charles, who had been running to a little distance, returned with great speed, bringing with him, by the hinder leg, a dead animal he had picked up, rather smaller than a common rat, but broader in proportion to its length.
“What is this, what is this?” asked he.
“A mole,” replied Mrs. Mansfield, who saw it first.