SWALLOW. 173 
often, especially in clear fine weather, they may be seen high up in the air, 
almost like specks, wheeling in everchanging gyrations. The Swallow 
catches as much of its food over the dry land as it does over water, 
more so perhaps than the Martin, and is fond of large meadows sprinkled 
with trees, especially those containing a fish-pond or a sluggish stream. 
The Swallow certainly has more command over itself in the air than the 
Martin ; its wings and tail are longer, and enable it to twist and turn 
with surprising quickness. Its general flight also seems performed with 
less labour ; it appears to swim through the air propelled by an invisible 
power. Dixon thus writes of the flight of this bird :—“ How gracefully the 
Swallows fly. See them coursing over the daisy-spangled grass-fields— 
now skimming just over the surface of the grass, then with a rapid stroke 
of their long wings mounting into the air and hovering a few moments 
just above your head, displaying their rich white and chestnut under 
plumage. Then they chase each other seemingly for very joyfulness, 
uttering their sharp twittering notes as if exulting in the bright sunshine 
and the abundance of food. Now they hover for a moment just like a 
little Kestrel, or, closing their wings, dart downwards with the velocity 
of a Sparrow-Hawk; anon they flit rapidly over the neighbouring pool, 
dipping themselves in its unruffled surface, and marking each dip witha 
ring on the water. How easily they turn and glide over the hedges, 
speed across the pastures and return, dart under the hanging branches of 
the tall elms, or chase the flies round the feeding cattle ; never resting, 
never weary. You frequently see them glide rapidly along a few inches 
from the ground, then with a sidelong motion mount aloft, to dart down- 
wards, like an animated meteor, their plumage glowing like silver in the 
sun, and the row of white spots on the fully spread tail coming out in 
bold contrast with the darker feathers.” The Swallow not unfrequently 
alights upon the ground, on a roof, or the dead branch of a tree, but is 
exceedingly awkward, especially when on the ground. Its short legs 
prevent it from walking or hopping, and every movement that it essays 
is always accompanied by a motion of the wings. It sometimes alights 
at little pools on the, roadside, but usually drinks on the wing when 
skimming over the water. ‘The Swallow is a very early riser, and may be 
seen abroad at dawn almost before the Goatsucker has gone off to its 
retreat ; and he continues his labours into the dusk, until he can no longer 
detect the passing flies. Swallows often amuse themselves by mobbing 
large birds, and at such a time their powers of flight may be witnessed to 
perfection. It is a pretty sight to see a swarm of these little creatures in 
wrathful but perfectly harmless chase of a Hawk or a Cuckoo high up in 
the blue sky. 
The usual note of the Swallow is loud, somewhat resembling the word 
hwet, occasionally, if the bird is excited, repeated once or twice; but 
