158 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



The swallow, probably the male bird, is the sentinel 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 hi run do (swallow-tribe) 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. 



Before they depart, for some weeks, to a bird they forsake 

 houses and chimneys, and roost in trees, and usually withdraw about 

 the beginning of October, though some few stragglers may appear 

 on at times till the first week in November. G. W. 



