576 HIRUNDO URBICA. 



the preceding species, for, besides occurring in the neighbour- 

 hood of towns, villages, and farm-buildings, in the lower and 

 populous parts of the country, small colonies establish them- 

 selves on the inns and larger houses in many of the remote 

 valleys, where the strolling naturalist is often delighted as well 

 as surprised by the sight of them. In the valleys of the upper 

 districts of the Clyde, the Tweed, the Dee, and the Tay, the 

 presence of these beautiful and lively birds gives an intimation 

 of our approach to the haunts of civilization and commerce, 

 as we emerge from the moors and wild glens of the pastoral 

 regions. 



The ease and rapidity of its flight, however marvellous, ex- 

 cite no astonishment, as w^e are daily in the habit of witness- 

 ing them ; but a true lover of nature can nevertheless contem- 

 plate its airy windings for hours with delight. The evolutions 

 of this species resemble in all respects those of the Red-fronted 

 Swallow ; but its flight is perhaps somewhat less rapid, although 

 it is certainly very difficult to decide with accuracy in a com- 

 parison of this kind. Its svixeps and curves however seem to 

 me to be less bold, or rather less extended ; but its dexterity 

 is equally remarkable. It mingles in its sportive- like pursuits 

 with both the other species, although each kind seems to give 

 some preference to the society of its own members. The in- 

 fluence of the weather on the flight of insects causes it to ob- 

 serve the same selection of places as they ; so that in calm 

 and cloudless days it flies more in the open air, in windy 

 weather more in the shelter of hedges and walls, and in damp 

 evenings it skims over the grass and corn. 



Its ordinary cry is a rather loud chirp, which it frequently 

 emits, more especially when it flies in the vicinity of its nest. 

 It has been called a twitter, but the syllables which it most re- 

 sembles are cliir-rup. When flying over a field, or under the 

 shelter of trees, with its young, it has a softer and more plea- 

 sant chirp, which is respon led to by them ; and in calling to 

 one to come up and receive an insect, it utters a repetition of 

 its notes, so as to produce a low chitter. Its song is loud 

 enough to be heard in calm weather at the distance of three 

 hundred yards, and is cheerful, although not remarkable for 



