THE SWALLOWS. 101 
birds. Most of their time is spent on the wing, and they 
-drink and even wash while flying. 
They have to come down to get material for their nests, 
which are made of mud, and generally fixed to buildings, 
the Swallows having very early ratified an alliance with 
man, who has always regarded these beautiful and useful 
birds with favour. 
In the Swallows the male and female are very nearly 
alike, and the young, although much duller, can generally 
be recognized in each species by their resemblance to their 
parents. Swallows are migratory in regions where there 
is a hard winter, but in warm countries many resident 
birds are found, as in India. The House-Sparrow is a 
great enemy to them, seizing on their nests, and where 
that bird becomes common the Swallows are not long in 
disappearing from houses. People who are fond of the 
Swallows should keep Sparrows rigidly in check, and put 
up little ledges in suitable places to afford foundations tor 
the Swallows’ nests—it is easy to see where they prefer 
to build. The dirt made by the birds need be no draw- 
back, as it is easy to fix a board under the nest to catch it. 
If thus kindly treated, Swallows will frequent the same 
house for years, and be of great service in destroying mos- 
quitoes and flies. 
Swallows are, of course, quite unsuited to captivity, 
but, as some one of my readers may be public-spirited 
enough to try to introduce some of these charming and 
useful birds into the few countries where they are not yet 
found, it is just as well to mention that they can be kept, 
even in cages, for several months, though I believe they 
