344 HIRUNDINIDjE. 



but varying somewhat according to the peculiarities of the 

 site. In many cases a rim only of this mason-work, which 

 as it dries quickly hardens into a crust, is needed, and the 

 lining, consisting always of feathers, commonly caught as 

 they drift in the air, and fine grasses, then rests on the bare 

 wall or wood that forms the base of the nest. The eggs 

 are from four to six in number,* of a translucent white, 

 boldly blotched and speckled with ashy-grey and orange- 

 brown deepening into black, and measure from *9 to '1'2, by 

 from *56 to "52 in. Two broods are reared in the season, the 

 first being usually fledged by the end of June, and the 

 second by the end of August. "While the hen is sitting the 

 cock is assiduous in waiting upon her, frequently pausing in 

 his flight to perch on some place within sound of her, and 

 thence warbling in a soft and sweet strain. The song is also 

 often uttered on the wing, but on any alarm is at once 

 clianged to a sharp and angry note, which may perhaps be 

 syllabled feetafcet-feetafectit, and is quickly taken up by all 

 other Swallows that are near, when the assembled band 

 will unite to drive off the intruding cat or hawk, by bravely 

 and repeatedly dashing at the marauder, glancing upward to 

 avoid its clutch after each assault. 



On the young first leaving the nest they scramble or 

 flutter to the chimney-top or to an adjacent roof, where they 

 sit and are fed by their parents. Their next essay is to 

 reach some leafless bough, whence at intervals they make 

 excursions in the air of gradually increasing length, but 

 continue to receive their food as before. Soon after they 

 take more boldly to the wing; but, still unable to earn their 

 own living, they accompany their parents in the search of prey, 

 and when enough is collected, young and old at a signal 

 advance to each other, rising in the air, so as to meet and 

 transfer a mouthful from the latter to the former, which accepts 

 it with a note of gratification. 



The early broods when able to shift for themselves spread 

 over the country, and as the season advances collect in vast 



* Lister informed Ray of a Swallow that laid nineteen eggs successively 

 (Willugliby's ' Ornithology,' Engl. ed. pref. p. 9). 



