CHAPTER XIII THE SWALLOW The Hebrew word "dedor" means the bird of freedom; and because no other feathered creature with which Bible lands were acquainted had the swift, untiring flight, covered the wide range of territory, found its food on wing, and speedily died in captivity, as did the swallow, every one agrees that it was intended. In every land in all times this bird has been noted for the grace of its ceaseless flight, which attains such speed that a certain branch of the family find a name thereby, and are called "swifts." Pliny said: "Of all birds the swallow alone flieth bias, and windeth in and out in his flight: he is most swift of wing and flieth with ease: and therefore not so ready to be surprised and taken by other birds. He never feedeth but flying, and so doth no other bird besides." To the great average of folk in our day, swallow means two birds; the trim little chimney swift, and the graceful and beautiful barn swallow. These are the two that we see perching and on wing around our homes. All other members of the family that nest among cliff's and under bridges we see only on wing, where they all appear so much alike as to be indistinguishable. I have not a doubt but this was the case in Bible lands. The swift and the swallow may have been distinguished because they were a little different in anatomy and voice; |