The Sivalloiv. 



ing note and mode of flying, or rather darting from place 

 to place. 



They appear in Britain in April, and build in some 

 outhouse, or, in part of a human dwelling, where they 

 lay their eggs and hatch their young. About August 

 they disappear, and do not return till the following 

 spring. Swallows kept in a cage moult about Christmas, 

 and seldom live till spring. 



There are several species of the Swallow : the general 

 characters of which are a small beak, but large, wide 

 mouth, for the purpose of swallowing flying insects, their 

 natural food ; and long forked tail and extensive wings, 

 to enable them to pursue their prey. The common Swal- 

 low builds under the eaves of houses, or in chimneys, near 

 their top ; it is frequently called the Chimney Swallow 

 from its preference for the last-mentioned rather sin- 

 gular situation-; the Martin also builds under eaves, and 

 most commonly against the upper corner or side of our 

 very windows, and seems not afraid at the sight of man, 

 yet it cannot be tamed, or even kept long in a cage. 

 The nature of the Swallow's nest is worthy of close 

 observation : how the mud is extracted from the sea- 

 shores, rivers, or other watery places ; how masoned and 

 formed into a solid building, strong enough to support a 

 whole family, and to face the " pelting storm," are won- 

 ders which ought to raise our mind to Him who bestowed 

 that instinct upon them. 



It is related that a pair of Swallows built their nest 

 for two successive years on the handle of a pair of garden 

 shears, that were stuck up against the boards of an out- 

 house ; and, therefore, must have had their nest spoiled 

 whenever the implement was wanted. And what is still 

 more strange, a bird of the same species built its nest 011 

 the wings and body of an owl that happened to hang dead 

 and dry from the rafter of a barn, and so loose as to be 

 moved by every gust of wind. This owl, with the nest 

 on its wings, and with eggs in the nest, was taken to the 

 museum of Sir Ashton Leaver as a curiosity. That gen- 

 tleman, struck with the singularity of the sight, furnished 

 the person who brought it with a large shell, desiring 

 him to fix it just where the owl had hung. The man 



