OF SELBORXE. 163 



long walks under hedges, and pasture-fields, and mown mea- 

 dows 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 are 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 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 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 sea-port towns, and making little excursions over the 

 .salt water. Horsemen on wide downs are often closely at- 

 tended by a little party of swallows for miles together, which 

 plays before and behind them, sweeping around, 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 flics: and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for 

 gravels i<> grind and digest it's food. Before they depart, for 

 some weeks, to a bird, they forsake houses and chimnies, and 

 roost in trees; and usually withdraw about the beginning of 



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