PERCHING BIRDS. 203 



Mr. Jesse says that he was informed by a clergy- 

 man of his acquaintance, that in an adjoining 

 parish to his own some young farmers formed 

 themselves into a club for the purpose of practis- 

 ing shooting flying, and they exercised their skill 

 on the swallows which frequented their hop- 

 grounds. The consequence was that the hops 

 were covered with insects and altogether blighted ; 

 while in the same year the hop-grounds in his 

 parish were perfectly free from blight, and produced 

 an abundant crop, he doing all that he could to 

 encourage the swallows. This author suggests 

 that persons having hop-grounds would do well to 

 erect rough buildings in them, with projecting 

 eaves, affording facilities for these birds to build 

 under them. If this expedient were tried he 

 thinks that much of the blight from insects, about 

 which great complaints are made, would not take 

 place. 



The migration of the swallow tribe has been 

 noticed by all observers of the habits of birds. 

 The subject of the periodical arrival and departure 

 of our migratory birds, is one of deep interest to 

 the lover of natural history, and certainly there is 

 no instinct which seems to act upon them more 

 forcibly, or which is so deeply involved in mystery. 



The times of these Sittings are observed with 

 the most astonishing order and punctuality; but 



