224- HOUSE SWALLOW. MARTIN. 



shortness and slenderness of their feet ; and the immode- 

 rate length of their wings. These qualities are indeed 

 essential to the kind of life which they lead, and enable 

 them to provide the means of ready subsistence. Insects 

 are their principal food; and no sooner does spring awaken 

 that class of animated nature from their state of torpidity 

 than the swallow makes its appearance. At first it flies 

 heavily and feebly, as if wearied with its journey; but, as 

 the weather grows warmer, and the number of insects in- 

 creases, it acquires additional strength and activity. 



The changes of the weather may be generally predicted 

 from the swallow's flying high or low in pursuit of its prey ; 

 but it is rather the insect, which is the object of its chase, 

 than the bird itself, that appears to have this quality of 

 foresight. 



A defect of its usual food on the approach of winter 

 naturally warns the swallow to meditate its departure; 

 but whither the tribe retire, and how they dispose of them- 

 selves, during that season, is a question which still con- 

 tinues to puzzle the scientific, and to amuse the specu- 

 lative. * 



THE COMMON OK HOUSE SWALLOW. 



This species is distinguished by the extreme forkedness 

 of its tail, and a red spot on the forehead and under its 

 chin. It builds its nest on the top of chimneys with great 

 industry and art, and sometimes breeds twice a year. 



The common swallow arrives in Great Britain about 

 twenty days before the other species of the same genus 

 which visit us, and leaves us about the end of September. 

 Its note is not disagreeable. 



THE MARTIN. 



This bird is inferior to the common swallow in size, and 

 its tail is forked. The head and the upper part of the 

 body, except the rump, are black glossed with blue ; the 



* See note p. 141. 



