Swallows do perch. 137 



were waves of some size, I saw a swallow struck by 

 the crest of a wave and overwhelmed. It was about 

 twent}* j-ards from a lee shore, and the bird floated 

 on the water, rising and sinking with the waves till 

 they threw it on the bank. It was much exhausted, 

 but when placed on a stone in the warm sunshine 

 soon recovered and flew off. 



As another proof that, quick as they are on the 

 wing, they do not always judge their position or 

 course precisely, I know a case where a swallow, in 

 less than ten yards after leaving her nest under the 

 eaves of a house, flew with great force against a door 

 in the garden wall painted a dull blue. The beak 

 was partly broken and the bird completely stunned : 

 she died in a few minutes. There was some one in 

 the garden close by at the time : his presence may 

 have frightened the swallow ; yet they are not usually 

 timid where their nests are undisturbed. Perhaps in 

 her hurry the dull blue color of the gate may have 

 deceived her sight ; but she must have travelled that 

 way a hundred times before. 



Swallows frequently come down the great chim- 

 ne}"S at the farmhouse and are found in the rooms, 

 but are always allowed to escape from the window. 

 Swallows are said not to perch ; but I have seen 

 them repeatedly perch on those sticks which, where 

 the thatch has somewhat decayed, project a few 

 inches above the roof-tree. Sometimes a row of half 

 a dozen may be observed settled on the roof here. 

 You may see them, too, perch on the topmost boughs 

 of the tall damson trees in the orchard ; and again, 

 later in the autumn, after nesting is over, they as- 

 semble in hundreds one might almost say thousands 



