SWALLOW. 83 



Mr. Pearson had ; who concludes this interesting 

 account with the following words. Jan. 20, 1797 

 I have now in my house, No. 21, Great Newport 

 Street, Long-Acre, four Swallows in moult, in as 

 perfect health as any birds ever appeared to be 

 in when moulting." 



The general food of the birds of this genus con- 

 sists of insects, which they capture while on the 

 wing ; and from their amazing quick flight must 

 be endowed with a wonderful keen sight, to enable 

 them to distinguish such small objects: they usually 

 have two broods in the year ; some will occasionally 

 have three : their nests are made of mud, rendered 

 firm by a mixture of hair, twigs, and such like ma- 

 terials : they are fond of flying over the surface of 

 rivers and brooks, and sipping the water, without 

 staying their flight : many of them warn small 

 birds of the approach of Hawks and other birds of 

 prey, by setting up a loud scream. They are found 

 throughout the whole world. 



