148 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



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 hirundo 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 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: is also a bold flyer, 

 ranging to distant downs and commons even in windy 

 weather, which the other species seem much to dislike ; 

 nay, even frequenting exposed sea-port towns, and making 

 little excursions over the salt water. Horsemen on wide 

 downs are often closely attended by a little party, of 

 swallows for miles together, which plays before and behind 

 them, sweeping around, and collecting all the sculking 

 insects that are roused by the trampling of the horses' feet : 

 when the wind blows hard, without this expedient, they 

 are often forced to settle to pick up their lurking prey. 



This species feeds much on little coleoptera, as well as on 

 gnats and flies : and often settles on dug ground, or paths, 

 for gravels to grind and digest its food. 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. 



Some few pairs haunt the new and open streets of 

 London next the fields, but do not enter, like the house- 

 martin, the close and crowded parts of the city. 



Both male and female are distinguished from their con- 

 geners by the length and forkedness of their tails. They 

 are undoubtedly the most nimble of all the species : and 

 when the male pursues the female in amorous chase, they 

 then go beyond their usual speed, and exert a rapidity 

 almost too quick for the eye to follow. 



After this circumstantial detail of the life and discerning 

 rj of the swallow, I shall add, for your farther amuse- 



