SWALLOW NESTS. 257 



duck, into an earthen pot closely covered, and suffered to boil 

 over a slow fire for twenty-four hours. 



Swallows are generally hailed as welcome guests, and 

 allowed to fix their plastered dwellings without molestation 

 under the eaves or corners of window-sills ; but when very 

 numerous they are apt to occasion a good deal of dirt, and 

 when once established it is by no means easy to drive them 

 away. This, however, may be effected by rubbing the corners 

 of the windows with soft soap early in the spring. This was 

 practised with success in a house, the windows of which used 

 to be quite darkened by the dirt &c. occasioned by a colony 

 of nests. The Swallows on their arrival began to build as 

 usual: but as fast as they attempted to attach their materials 

 to the stone, they slipped off. For some days they renewed 

 their attempts, but then gave the matter up ; and what was 

 very remarkable, although the soaping was never renewed, 

 not a single Swallow ever afterwards attempted to build on 

 the windows, not even on those which had not been soaped, 

 though several built in the adjacent out-houses and imme- 

 diate neighbourhood. 



But we fear we are suggesting a needless remedy for an 

 inconvenience not likely to occur; for within the last few 

 years, particularly since 1809, these pretty social Summer 

 visitors, like our Starlings, have been decreasing in numbers 

 in the most unaccountable manner, not only in England, but 

 in almost every part of the Continent. 



The same church- steeple which has enabled us year after 

 year to watch the Starlings,* was formerly a source of equal 

 interest respecting Swallows; nests were snugly concealed in 

 sheltered nooks, the belfry itself being a favourite resort, not- 

 withstanding the frequent peals which might have shaken 

 the nerves of less determined birds ; and a few days before 

 their final departure, it was pleasant to watch them marshalling 

 their newly-fledged broods along the projecting dripstones 

 and mouldings on the eastern side of the old grey tower, 

 enjoying the morning sun. As the numbers collected seemed 



* See page 212. 



