THE SWALLOW. 243 



cotton, wool, and fine hay, should be dispersed in dif- 

 ferent parts of the room. The male will take his turn 

 in building the nest, sitting upon the eggs, and feeding 

 the young* They are generally two or three days in 

 building their nest, which usually contains five eggs, 

 which in a fortnight are nurtured into life. 



OF THE SWALLOW AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



In this tribe may be included the goatsucker, which 

 may be styled a nocturnal swallow, as at the approach 

 of evening it begins its flight. This bird is the largest 

 of the kind, and may be known by the tail not being 

 forked like the common swallow's. The martin's tail 

 is likewise but little forked, and it is not of so large a 

 size; the house-swallow is too well known to require 

 being particularly described. 



These birds may be all known by the size of their 

 mouths, which they always extend when they are upon 

 their flight ; their feet are formed remarkably slender ; 

 and their wings are longer in proportion than any other 

 birds of their size : their tail is likewise an extraordi- 

 nary length, and acts as a rudder in its circuit through 

 the air. 



About the latter end of September the swallows leave 

 us, and, a few days previous to their departure, assem- 

 ble in large bodies upon the tops of houses, as if to 

 deliberate on the fatiguing journey they are about to 

 undertake ; for they direct their flight to Congo, Se- 

 negal, and along the Morocco shore. In this expedi- 

 tion some are left behind, which are supposed to be 

 too feeble to venture upon so long and dangerous a 

 flight : these, it is believed, hide themselves in holes 

 Under ground, fixing both bill and feet close together ; 

 though some Naturalists have asserted that they live 



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