200 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



CHAPTER X. 



. SWALLOWS Their utility Migration The Sand Martin 

 A colony of these birds described The Chimney Swallow 

 and the Martin Their habits and instincts The 

 Ancients and the Swallows Affecting instance of pa- 

 rental affection in a pair of Martins The Swift A 

 denizen of the air Preys upon spiders Migrates early 

 The Night-jar, or Goatsucker This bird the Swallow 

 of the night, or twilight Peculiarities of its confor- 

 mation A moth-hunter A summer's night passed 

 amid the haunts of the Night-jar, 



AMONG the most conspicuous of our summer birds, 

 are the family of the SWALLOWS, birds with whose 

 appearance we associate the idea of winter's 

 departure and summer's approach. Favourites of 

 all, and hailed with delight, these most charming 

 and intelligent birds are of the utmost utility in 

 destroying myriads of our minute winged foes, 

 which without their aid would render the labour 

 of the husbandman comparatively fruitless. They 

 may be considered as the guardians of our fields, 

 and deserve to be everywhere projected. 



In proof of their great value as insect-destroyers, 



