178 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



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while there is a family to be supported, she spends the whole day 

 in skimming close to the ground, and executing 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 excubitor to house- 

 martins, and other little birds, announcing the approach of birds 

 of prey. For as soon as a hawk appears, with a 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 a perpendicular line in perfect security. This bird also 

 will sound the alarm, and strike at cats when they climb on the 

 roofs of houses, or otherwise approach the nests. Each species 

 of hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping the surface of the 

 water ; but the swallow alone, in general, washes on the wing, by 

 dropping into a pool for many times together : in very hot weather 

 house-martins and bank-martins dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny weather 

 sings both perching and flying; on trees in a kind of concert, 

 and on chimney tops : is also a bold flyer, ranging to distant 

 downs and commons even in windy weather, which the other 

 species seem much to dislike; nay, even frequenting exposed 

 seaport towns, and making little excursions over the salt water. 

 Horsemen on wide downs are often closely attended by a little 

 party of swallows for miles together, which plays before and 

 behind them, sweeping around them, and collecting all the sculking 

 insects that are roused by the trampling of the horses' feet : when 

 the wind blows hard, without this expedient, they are often forced 

 to settle to pick up their lurking prey. 



This species feeds much on little Coleoptera, as well as on 

 gnats and flies; and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for 

 gravels to grind and digest its food. Before they depart, for 



