SWALLOWS. 177 



All the summer long is the swallow a most instructive 

 pattern of unwearied industry and affection ; for, from morn- 

 ing to night, while there is a family to be supported, she 

 spends the whole day in skimming close to the ground, 

 and exerting 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, espe- 

 cially 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 an 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 per- 

 fect 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 flier, ranging 

 to distant downs and commons even in windy weather, which 

 the other species seem much to dislike; nay, even frequenting 



by insects and much injured. This, however, was not the case in an adjoining 

 village, in which a friend of mine, a benevolent clergyman, resided, and -who 

 persuaded his parishioners to protect the swallow. 



I have often thought that if the extensive hop-growers in Kent and other 

 countries were to erect a sort of cheap tower, with projecting eaves, in their 

 hop-grounds, and thatch them over, swallows would build under them, an 1 thus 

 colonies of these birds would be formed, which would clear the hops of numerous 

 noxious insects. The suggestion is, I am persuaded, worthy of attention. The 

 birds would then be able to fulfil the purpose for which a kind Providence had 

 sent them. Our brethren of the United States harbour and protect the swallows 

 as much as possible about their dwellings. ED. 



K 



