THE HISTORY OF THE SWALLOWS 161 



companies, small and large, lining the wires at brief 

 intervals of every few miles. 



In the old naturalist's time, in open down country, 

 horsemen often would be attended by little parties of 

 swallows, who followed 

 them for miles together, 

 sweeping round about 

 the horses to pick up 

 the insects stirred from 

 the grass by their hoofs. 

 We have often sat be- 

 side a shepherd on the 

 brow of the South 

 Downs watching the 

 swallows sweeping, with 

 the same intent, about 

 the grazing sheep ; and 

 the shepherd has told 

 us that he has more 

 swallows, martins, and 

 swifts to keep him 

 company on a dull day 

 than on a sunny one, 

 for, if rain threatens, 

 the insects hide among 

 the grasses, and so the 

 swallows gather where 

 they are stirred up by 

 the feet of the flock. 



Back and forth over the grazing sheep speed the 

 birds, now flashing up the hill into our faces, then, 

 with one beat of the wings, swooping sheer to the 

 foot, a thousand feet below twisting, rising, diving for 

 hours together, making a most beautiful bird picture. 



Except for the great autumnal gatherings of the 



The sparrow in possession 



