8o THE SWALLOW 



stantly repeating its short, little varied, hut far from unpleasing 

 song, every now and then interrupted by the pursuit and capture 

 of some passing insect. It is said also to be very noisy and clamorous 

 when its nest is approached. It quits our shores in September. 



FAMILY HIRUNDINIDyE 

 THE SWALLOW 



HIRUNDO RUSTICA 



Forehead and throat chestnut-brown ; upper parts, sides of the neck, and a 

 bar across the breast black, with violet reflections ; lower parts dull red- 

 dish white ; tail very long and forked. Female — with less red on the 

 forehead and less black on the breast ; under parts whiter ; outer tail- 

 feathers shorter. Length six inches and a half, width thirteen inches and 

 a quarter. Eggs white, spotted with brown and dark red. 



There are many features in the life of the Swallow so prominent, 

 that no undomesticated bird is more thoroughly known. Like 

 the Sparrow, it accompanies man wherever he fixes his dwelling ; 

 but, unlike the Sparrow, it is liable to be mistaken for no other bird ; 

 its flight is peculiar and aU but ceaseless ; at least, it is rarely seen 

 except in motion ; and it is absent during the greater portion of 

 the year, so giving to itself a twofold notoriety, being regretted at 

 the season of its departure and welcomed at its return. These 

 three circumstances, its migratory habits, its mode of flight, and 

 attachment to the dwellings of man, have been the cause why, in 

 all ages, it has been invested with especial interest. Its return is 

 universally greeted as prophetic of summer weather ; the very 

 proverb that ' one Swallow does not make a summer ', only indicates 

 a popular belief ; and its departure is among the first intimations 

 of approaching winter. The Swallow consequently is the type of 

 migratory birds ; if the Swallow is come, all take it for granted 

 that the other summer birds have arrived, and when its twitter is 

 no longer heard, we know that all the other birds of passage are 

 gone or going. Of the Swallow, therefore, it is said pre-eminently, 

 " God sends us the Swallow in the first days of summer, to relieve 

 us of the insects which the summer suns are calling into life. The 

 home of the Swallow is aU the habitable earth ; it knows nothing 

 of winter or winter's cold." In remote ages the Swallow was con- 

 sidered to be endowed with supernatural intelligence ; it refused 

 to build its nest in a certain town because it was polluted with 

 crime ; in another, because it had been frequently burnt down ; it 

 foretold tempests ; and, above all, it was noted for having taught 

 men the healing properties of a certain herb,^ by employing it to 



1 Chelidonium : Celandine or Swallow-wort, from x^'^'^wj', ' a Swallow '. 



