138 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



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 morning to night, 

 while there is a family to be supported, she spends the whole day 

 in skimming close to the ground, and exerting the most sudden 

 turns and quick evolutions. Avenues, and long walks under 

 hedges, and pasture-fields, and mown meadows where cattle graze, 

 are her delight, especially if there are trees interspersed ; because 

 in such spots insects most abound. When a fly is taken a smart 

 snap from her bill is heard, resembling the noise at the shutting 

 of a watch-case ; but the motion of the mandibles are too quick 

 for the eye. 



The swallow, probably the male bird, is the excubitor to house- 

 martins, and other little birds, announcing the approach of birds 

 of prey. For as soon as an hawk appears, with a shrill alarming 

 note he calls all the swallows and martins about him ; who pursue 

 in a body, and buffet and strike their enemy till they have driven 

 him from the village, darting down from above on his back, and 

 rising in a perpendicular line in perfect security. This bird also 

 will sound the alarm, and strike at cats when they climb on the 

 roofs of houses, or otherwise approach the nests. Each species of 

 hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping the surface of the water ; 

 but the swallow alone, in general, washes on the wing, by dropping 

 into a pool for many times together : in very hot weather house- 

 martins and bank-martins dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny weather 

 sings both perching and flying ; on trees in a kind of concert, and 

 on chimney tops : is also a bold flyer, ranging to distant downs 

 and commons even in windy weather, which the other species 

 seem much to dislike ; nay, even frequenting exposed sea-port 

 towns, and making little excursions over the salt water. Horse- 

 men on wide downs are often closely attended by a little party of 

 swallows for miles together, which plays before and behind them, 

 sweeping around, and collecting all the sculking insects that are 

 roused by the trampling of the horses' feet : when the wind blows 

 hard, without this expedient, they are often forced to settle to 

 pick up their lurking prey. 



This species feeds much on little coleoptera, as well as on gnats 

 and flies ; and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for gravels 

 to grind and digest it's food. Before they depart, for some weeks, 



