254 THE SWALLOW. 



dant ; and then, as if with one consent, settle on the tops of 

 some high elms for a few minutes ; the whole quitting them, 

 however, at the same instant. There is an apparent glee 

 and sportiveness amongst Swallows on a fine summer's even- 

 ing, which I have much pleasure in watching. 



" So when the earth smiles with a summer's ray, 



The wanton swallows o'er the valleys play ; 



In sport each other they so swiftly chase, 



Sweeping with easy wings the meadow's face, 



They seem upon the ground to fly a race." BLACKMORE 



Swallows seem to entertain the recollection of injury, and 

 to resent it when an opportunity offers. A pair of Swallows 

 built their nest under the ledge of a house at Hampton Court. 

 It was no sooner completed, than a couple of sparrows drove 

 them from it, notwithstanding the Swallows kept up a good 

 resistance, and even brought others to assist them. The 

 sparrows were left in peaceable possession of the nest, till the 

 old birds were obliged io quit it at the same time to provide 

 food for their young. They had no sooner departed, than 

 several Swallows came and broke down the nest ; and I saw 

 the young sparrows lying dead on the ground. As soon as 

 the nest was demolished, the Swallows began to rebuild it. 

 The whole transaction was witnessed by a gentleman who 

 resided close to the spot. 



A remarkable instance of the sense and reflection of the 

 Swallow (I must not call it reason), was lately related to me 

 by a nobleman, whose accuracy and good sense are only 

 equalled by his kindness and benevolence. He informed me, 

 that a pair of Swallows built their nest under the arch of a 

 lime-kiln at its extreme point, and from which three chimneys 

 or flues branched off. At the time the nest was constructing, 

 the heat of the kiln was so great, that only keeping the hand 

 for a short time within the arch, produced a painful sensation. 

 In this spot, however, the nest was nearly completed, when 

 the heat caused it to crumble, and fall to the ground. A 

 second nest was built in the same spot, and afterwards a third, 

 both of which shared the same fate. A fourth nest was then 



