SWALLOWS. 



71 



whilst the feathers above the tail are snowy white, as are all the under 

 parts — neck, chin, and all, and his beautiful little feet covered with small 

 soft white feathers. The individuals of this species are so alike, that 

 you can only distinguish the cock and hen birds by the superior darkness 

 of the cock's plumage. These birds also use mud in the construction of 

 their dwellings, which, like sensible architects, they take their time in 

 constructing, so that the clay has time to dry before another layer is 

 applied, and thus the whole fabric attains a firmness which could not 

 otherwise be compassed. This is generally built against an upright wall, 

 under the eaves of some roof or the sill of a window, and can by no 

 means be considered a dis-sight. Luckily for the poor little builder, there 

 is a superstition prevails, that as soon as Martins desert a house where 

 they have been for years in the habit of building, bad fortune is certain 

 to attend it; however this may be, it is certain that they are seldom or 

 never disturbed, and people even go so far as to put a slanting board 

 underneath, to shoot off what may accidently fall from them. They are, 

 however, seldom annoying from this cause, as the old birds invariably 

 carry to a distance what might be offensive if it dropped on the ground 

 beneath. 



The eggs of the Martin are usually five in number, and quite white. 

 The young birds are often fed by the parents on the wing, but it is 

 performed so adroitly, that it is not easily seen; with the Swallow it is 

 notorious enough. Although this bird is by no means so graceful as the 

 Swallow, it has its own peculiar beauties — a certain prettiness which is 

 chiefly produced by the delicate contrast of the markings, and the butterfly 

 kind of motion he has on the wing. He is very much smaller than the 

 Swallow, and has a particular mode of flight, for instead of sailing grace- 

 fully on the air, and darting through it with the rapidity ^of an 

 arrow, he flutters and skims alternately, fluttering as he rises, and skimming 

 as he descends. I should say he was also more numerous than the 

 Swallow, and more domesticated, at least he is more easily viewed, from 

 not possessing such wonderful power of wing as the other, and always 

 builds at our very thresholds, which he is perpetually flitting around with 

 a harsh kind of chirp; for song he has none. The food of both these 

 kinds is insects, which they catch on the wing; the act of catching is 

 necessarily very quick, and hardly to be observed; but you may often 

 hear the snap of the bill as they pass you. 



(To be continued.) 



