OF SELBORNE. 203 
and complacency, that a person must have paid 
very little regard to the wonders of Nature that 
has not often remarked this feat. 
The dam betakes herself immediately to the 
business of a second brood as soon as she is disen.- 
gaged from her first, which at once associates with 
the first broods of house-martins, and with them 
congregates, clustering on sunny roofs, towers, and 
trees. This hirundo brings out her second brood 
towards the middle and end of August. 
All the summer long is the swallow a most in. 
structive pattern of unwearied industry and affec- 
tion; for from morning to night, while there is a 
family to be supported, she spends the whole day 
in skimming close to the ground, and exerting the 
most sudden turns and quick evolutions. Avenues, 
and long walks under hedges, and pasture-fields, 
and mown meadows where cattle graze, are her 
delight, especially if there are trees interspersed, 
because in such spots insects most abound. When 
a fly is taken, a smart snap from her bill is heard, 
resembling the noise at the shutting of a watch- 
case ; but the motion of the mandibles is too quick 
for the eye. ; 
The swallow, probably the male bird, is the ex- 
cubitor to house-martins and other little birds, an- 
nouncing the approach of birds of prey; for as 
soon as a hawk appears, witha shrill, alarming note, 
he calls all the swallows and martins about him, 
who pursue in a body, and buffet and strike their 
enemy till they have driven him from the village, 
darting down from above on his back, and rising in 
@ perpendicular line in perfect security. This bird 
also will sound the alarm, and strike at cats when 
