OP SELBORNE. 261 



security through so narrow a pass. When hovering 

 over the mouth of the funnel, the vibrations of her 

 wings acting on the confined air occasion a rumbling 

 like thunder. It is not improbable that the dam sub- 

 mits to this inconvenient situation so low in the shaft, 

 in order to secure her broods from rapacious birds, and 

 particularly from owls, which frequently fall down 

 chimneys, perhaps in attempting to get at these nest- 

 lings. 



The swallow lays from four to six white eggs, dotted 

 with red specks; and brings out her first brood about 

 the last week in June, or the first week in July. The 

 progressive method by which the young are introduced 

 into life is very amusing: first, they emerge from the 

 shaft with difficulty enough, and often fall down into 

 the rooms below: for a day or so they are fed on the 

 chimney-top, and then are conducted to the dead leaf- 

 less bough of some tree, where, sitting in a row, they 

 are attended with great assiduity, and may then be 

 called perchers. In a day or two more they become 

 flyers, but are still unable to take their own food; 

 therefore they play about near the place where the 

 dams are hawking for flies; and, when a mouthful is 

 collected, at a certain signal given, the dam and the 

 nestling advance, rising towards each other, and meeting 

 at an angle ; the young one all the while uttering such 

 a little quick note of gratitude and complacency, that a 

 person must have paid very little regard to the wonders 

 of Nature that has not often remarked this feat. 



The dam betakes herself immediately to the business 

 of a second brood as soon as she is disengaged from her 

 first; which at once associates with the first broods of 

 house martins; and with them congregates, clustering 

 on sunny roofs, towers, and trees. This Hirundo brings 

 out her second brood towards the middle and end of 

 August. 



All the summer long is the swallow a most instructive 

 pattern of unwearied industry and affection ; for, from 



