SWALLOWS. 245 



visible wheels and springs, tells us when we may expect the 

 weather to be moist or dry. 



We have noticed some odd places chosen by birds for theii 

 nests, but none, perhaps, more curious than those selected by 

 Swallows, at the same time affording another proof of the 

 constant return of birds to the same places. That they do 

 return, is, indeed, a fact established beyond a doubt, it having 

 been ascertained, by the experiment of fastening a small piece 

 of silk round one of the legs of a female, when sitting upon 

 eggs, and finding her again similarly occupied on the following 

 spring. At a nobleman's house in Scotland, the kitchen was 

 in a building separated from the main part of the house by an 

 open court, but connected with it by a covered passage, sup- 

 ported by posts, and open to the south. In the corner of the 

 passage, close to the kitchen door, a bracket was placed for 

 holding a lamp, which was taken down to be trimmed every 

 day, and lighted every evening. On that bracket a Swallow, 

 and it is believed the same Swallow, built her nest for three ox 

 four years, quite regardless of the removal or light of the 

 lamp, and the constant passing and repassing of the servants. 

 On the opposite side of the same open court, the great house- 

 bell was hung, under a wooden cover, fastened to the north 

 wall of the house : it was a large bell, and was rung several 

 times a day, to call the servants to their meals. Under 

 the wooden cover of this bell, the same Swallow, it is 

 believed, which had formerly built on the bracket for the 

 lamp, built a nest for several years, and never was in the 

 least disturbed by the ringing of the bell, or the rattling of 

 the rope. 



One of the chimneys in a house at Blois, in France, was 

 surmounted by an old moving iron chimney-pot, placed there 

 to prevent it from smoking; the fireplace with which it 

 communicated having been bricked up, it became a safe place 

 for building in. Accordingly, as such it was pitched upon by 

 a couple of Swallows, and in it, moved as it was by every 

 wind, and making at every motion a dismal creaking noise, 

 for two successive years did they build their nest ; and often 

 were they seen, for minutes together, when the wind was high, 



