1H THE NATURAL HISTORY [LETT. 



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 pur- 

 sue 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 will also 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 also 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 : it 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 sea-port 

 towns and making little excursions over the salt water Horse- 

 men on wide downs are often closely attended by a little party 

 of swallows for miles together, which plays before and behind 

 them, sweeping around, and collecting all the skulking 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 some weeks 



" Now suddenly he skims the glassy pool, 

 Now quaintly dips, and with an arrow's speed 

 Whisks by. I love to lie awake, and hear 

 His morning song twittered to dawning day." 



