SWALLOW. 139 



Mr. Couch, in his 'Illustrations of Instinct,' mentions 'a pair 

 of Swallows which were observed on the wing, engaged in a 

 chattering contest, close to an opening which led into a 

 solitary barn. It was the evident intention of one of them 

 to obtain an entrance, and equally the determination of the 

 other that no admission should be permitted. They flew in 

 various directions about the only aperture, with incessant and 

 angry chattering; but the bird which appeared to be the 

 rightful occupier always maintained his advantage in keeping 

 nearest the opening. When at last nothing that he was 

 able to do or utter seemed capable of repelling the pertinacious 

 intruder, another bird suddenly darted out through the 

 opening, with a double portion of indignation marked in her 

 motions; and without uttering a sound, joined her mate in 

 repelling the foe; after which she again returned to her 

 solitary station within the building.' I fancy that I have 

 seen something of the sort, as first related, myself. 



'A pair of Swallows,' says Bishop Stanley, 'no doubt those 

 of the preceding year, on their arriving, found their old nest 

 already occupied by a Sparrow, who kept the poor birds at a 

 distance, by pecking at them with its strong beak, whenever 

 they attempted to dislodge it. Wearied, and hopeless of 

 regaining possession of their own property, they at last hit 

 upon a plan which effectually prevented the intruder from 

 reaping the reward of his roguery. One morning they appeared 

 with a few more Swallows, their mouths distended with a 

 supply of tempered clay, and, by joint labour, in a short time 

 actually plastered up the entrance hole, thus punishing the 

 Sparrow with imprisonment and death by starvation. This 

 instance of apparent reasoning occurred at a rectory-house 

 in Lancashire; and a similar story is on record near London, 

 of a pair of Swallows calling in the assistance of their 

 neighbours, for the very same purpose.' Mr. Jesse records a 

 precisely similar incident as having occurred in regard to a 

 nest built against the window of a house in Merrion Square, 

 Dublin, and remarks upon it, 'In this case, there appears to 

 have been not only a reasoning faculty, but the birds must 

 have been possessed of the power of communicating their 

 :itment and their wishes to their friends, without whose 

 aid they could not thus have avenged the injury they had 

 sustained.' Again, 'A pair of Swallows built their nest under 

 the ledge of a house at Hampton Court. It was no sooner 

 completed, than a couple of Sparrows drove them from it, 



