342 HIRUNDINIDJE. 



by some days, the Swallow generally comes to us in pairs, 

 though several or many pairs may be in company, and where 

 a single bird only is seen the presumption may be fairly 

 entertained that it has lost its mate through some accident of 

 travel. 



Arrived in this country the Swallow at once attaches itself 

 to the habitations of man, mostly preferring such as are 

 near water since they probably supply more plentifully the 

 winged insects on which it almost solely subsists.* These are 

 sought in the air nearly all day, for the power of flight this 

 species enjoys enables it to remain on the wing for hours 

 in succession with little apparent fatigue. It is one of the 

 earliest birds to awake in the morning and few are so late 

 to take rest. Towards the end of April or the beginning of 

 May, should the season be favourable, the site of the nest is 

 chosen, and in most cases resort is had to the place that in 

 former years has served the same purpose, the old structure, 

 if still remaining, being repaired and refurnished. In many 

 parts of the country the nest is frequently built inside a 

 chimney, at some five or six feet from the top, advantage 

 being taken of any irregularity of surface to obtain support 

 for the foundation ; but in other districts such a situation is 

 rarely or never selected, and the Swallow will establish itself 

 in the disused shaft of a mine, or an old well, while sheds, 

 barns^ or any buildings with open roofs, to which access can 

 be constantly obtained, are almost everywhere occupied, the 

 nest being then commonly placed on a wall-plate, girder or 

 any horizontal beam. A favourite site is aiforded underneath 

 bridges of wood or iron, as well as clock-turrets, and, though 

 much more rarely, the nest may be built beneath the eaves 

 of a cottage. So familiar is the bird with man, that it will 

 often enter inhabited houses, if a window always kept open, 

 a broken pane of glass, or a perforated shutter give it free 

 admission, and begin its nest on a shelf, ledge or any projec- 

 tion that may serve as a buttress, for without some such 

 inducement the little mason seldom commences its opera- 



* In the spring Swallows seem to feed almost exclusively on gnats and 

 crane-flies, but in summer small beetles are very largely taken. 



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