SWALLOWS. 251 



the great house-bell was hung, under a wooden cover, fastened 

 to the north wall of the house : it was a large bell, and was 

 rung several times a day, to call the servants to their meals. 

 Under the wooden cover of this bell, the same Swallow, it 

 is believed, which had formerly built on the bracket for the 

 lamp, built a nest for several years, and never was in the 

 least disturbed by the ringing of the bell, or the rattling of 

 the rope. 



One of the chimneys in a house at Blois, in France, was 

 surmounted by an old moving iron chimney-pot, placed there 

 to prevent it from smoking; the fire-place with which it 

 communicated having been bricked up, it became a safe place 

 for building in. Accordingly, as such, it was pitched upon 

 by a couple of Swallows, and in it, moved as it was by every 

 wind, and making at every motion a dismal creaking noise, 

 for two successive years did they build their nest ; and often 

 were they seen, for minutes together, when the wind was 

 high, trying in vain to get into it, its constant motion 

 rendering entrance an affair of some difficulty. 



Timid as they appear to be, when occasion calls for exer- 

 tion and courage they can not only fight a good battle, but 

 manifest a good deal of generalship. A pair of Martins, 

 having built in a corner of a window, one of which, from a 

 remarkable white feather in one of its wings, was known to 

 be the same bird which had built there the year before, had 

 no sooner finished their nest, than a strange Swallow con- 

 ceived the plan of taking possession of the property, and 

 once or twice actually succeeded in driving the owners out. 

 For a week there was constant battling. At length, the 

 two rightful owners were observed to be very busily engaged 

 in lessening the entrance into the nest, which in a short 

 time was so reduced that it was with difficulty they could 

 force themselves into it singly. When they had accomplished 

 their object, one or other of them always remained within, 

 with its bill sticking out, ready to receive any sudden attack. 

 The enemy persevered for a week, but at length, finding its 

 prospects hopeless, left the pair to enjoy the fruits of their 

 forethought. 



