THE SWALLOW. 



161 



of the rest. By knowing the linnet or the 

 canary bird, we have some notion of the man- 

 ners of the goldfinch ; by exhibiting the history 

 of the nightingale, we see also that of the 

 black-cap or the tit-mouse. But the swallow 

 tribe seems to be entirely different from all 

 the former; different in their form, different in 

 their habits, and unlike in all the particulars 

 of their history. 



In this tribe is to be found the goat-sucker, 

 which may be styled a nocturnal swallow ; it 

 is the largest of this kind, and is known by 

 its tail, which is not forked, like that of the 

 common swallow. It begins its flight at 

 evening, and makes a loud singular noise, 

 like the whur of a spinning-wheel. To this 

 also belongs the house-swallow, which is too 

 well known to need a description : the mar. 

 tin, inferior in size to the former, and the tail 

 much less forked; it differs also in its nest, 

 which is covered at top, while that of the 

 house- swallow is open : and the swift, rather 

 larger than the house-swallow, with all the 

 toes standing forward ; in which it differs 

 from the rest of its kind. All these resemble 

 each other so strongly, that it is not with- 

 out difficulty the smaller kinds are known 

 asunder. 



These are all well known by their very 

 large mouths, which, when they fly, are al- 

 ways kept open ; they are not less remarkable 

 tor their short slender feet, which scarcely are 

 able to support the weight of their bodies ; 

 their wings are of immoderate extent for their 

 bulk ; their plumage is glossed with a rich 

 purple; and their note is a slight twittering, 

 which they seldom exert but upon the wing. 

 This peculiar conformation seems attended 

 with a similar peculiarity of manners. Their 

 food is insects, which they always pursue fly- 

 ing. For this reason, during fine weather, 

 when the insects are most likely to be abroad, 

 the swallows are for ever upon the wing, and 

 seem pursuing their prey with amazing swift- 

 ness and agility. All smaller animals, in 

 some measure, find safety by winding and 

 turning, when they endeavour to avoid the 

 greater, the lark thus evades the pursuit of 

 the hawk, and man the crocodile. In this 

 manner, insects upon the wing endeavour to 

 avoid the swallow; but this bird is admirably 



fitted by nature to pursue them through their 



shortest turnings. Besides a great length of 

 wing, it is also provided with a long tail, 

 which like a rudder turns it in its most rapid 

 motions; and thus, while it is possessed of the 

 greatest swiftness, it is also possessed of the 

 most extreme agility. 



Early, therefore, in the spring, when 'the 

 returning sun begins to rouse the insect tribe 

 from their annual state of torpidity ; when the 

 gnat and the beetle put off their earthly robes. 

 and venture into air; the swallow then is seen 

 returning from its long migration beyond the 

 ocean, and making its way feebly to the shore. 

 At first, wilh the timidity of a stranger, it ap- 

 pears but seldom, and flies but slowly and 

 heavily along. As the weather grows warm- 

 er, and its insect supply increases, it then 

 gathers greater strength and activity. But it 

 sometimes happens that a rainy season, by re- 

 pelling the insects, stints the swallow in its 

 food ; the poor bird is then seen slowly skim- 

 ming along the surface of the ground, and 

 often resting after a flight of a few minutes. 

 In general, however, it keeps on the wing, 

 and moving with a rapidity that nothing can 

 escape. When the weather promises to be 

 fair, the insect tribe feel the genial influence, 

 and make bolder flights ; at which time the 

 swallow follows them in their aerial journeys, 

 and often rises to imperceptible heights in the 

 pursuit. When the weather is likely to be 

 foul, the insects feel the first notices of it; and 

 from the swallow's following low we are often 

 apprized of the approaching change. 



When summer is fairly begun, and more 

 than a sufficient supply for sustaining the 

 wants of nature every where offers, the swal 

 low then begins to think of forming a progeny. 

 The nest is built with great industry and art, 

 particularly by the common swallow, which 

 builds it on the tops of chimneys. The mar- 

 tin sticks it to the eaves of houses. The 

 goatsucker, as we are told, builds it on the 

 bare ground. This nest is built with mud 

 from some neighbouring brook, well tempered 

 with the bill, moistened with water, for the 

 better adhesion ; and still farther kept firm, 

 by long grass and fibres; within it is lined 

 with goose-feathers, which are ever the warm- 

 est and the neatest. The martin covers its 

 nest at top, and has a door to enter at; the 

 swallow leaves hers quite open. 1 But our 



The chimney-swallow differs from the window-swal- 

 low, according to Montbeillard, in not occupying tlio 

 same nest more than one season, building annually H 

 new nest, and, if the spot admits, it, fixing it above that 

 occupied the preceding year. " I have found them," 

 says he, " in the shaft of a chimney, thus ranged in tiers, 

 and have counted four, one above another, and all oi 

 equal size, plastered with mud mixed with straw and 

 hair. There were some of two difierent sizes and 

 shapes, the largest resembled a shallow half- cylinder, 

 open above, a foot in height, and attached to the sides of 



