246 SWALLOWS. 



trying in vain to get into it, its constant motion rendering 

 entrance an affair of some difficulty. 



Timid as they appear to be, when occasion calls for exertion 

 and courage they can not only fight a good battle, but manifest 

 a good deal of generalship. A pair of Martins having built 

 in a corner of a window, one of which, from a remarkable 

 white feather in one of its wings, was known to be the same 

 bird which had built there the year before, had no sooner 

 finished their nest, than a strange Swallow conceived the 

 plan of taking possession of the property, and once or twice 

 actually succeeded in driving the owners out. For a week 

 there was constant battling. At length the two ' rightful 

 owners were observed to be very busily engaged in lessening 

 the entrance into the nest, which in a short time was so 

 reduced that it was with difficulty they could force themselves 

 into it singly. When they had accomplished their object, 

 one or other of them always remained within, with its bill 

 sticking out, ready to receive any sudden attack. The enemy 

 persevered for a week, but at length, finding its prospects 

 hopeless, left the pair to enjoy the fruits of their forethought. 



The latter of the two preceding anecdotes tends to corro- 

 borate a more bold and sagacious measure adopted by a pair 

 of Swallows, no doubt those of the preceding year ; which, on 

 arriving, found their old nest already occupied by a Sparrow, 

 who kept the poor birds at a distance, by pecking at them 

 with its strong beak, whenever they attempted to dislodge it. 

 Wearied, and hopeless of regaining possession of their own 

 property, they at last hit upon a plan which effectually 

 prevented the intruder from reaping the reward of his roguery. 

 One morning they appeared with a few more Swallows — their 

 mouths distended with a supply of tempered clay — and, by 

 joint labour, in a short time actually plastered up the entrance- 

 hole, thus punishing the Sparrow with imprisonment, and 

 death by starvation. This instance of apparent reasoning 

 occurred at a rectory-house in Lancashire ; but a similar story 

 is on record, near London, of a pair of Swallows calling in the 

 assistance of their neighbours for the very same purpose. 



