194 SWALLOWS. 



hemispheric, that of the swallow is open at the 

 top, and like half a deep dish : this nest is lined 

 with fine grasses, and feathers, which are often 

 collected as they float in the air. 



Wonderful is the address which this adroit bird 

 shows all day long, in ascending and descending 

 with security through so narrow a pass. When 

 hovering over the mouth of the funnel, the vibra- 

 tions of her wings acting on the confined air 

 occasion a rumbling like thunder. It is not impro- 

 bable that the dam submits to this inconvenient 

 situation so low in the shaft, in order to secure 

 her broods from rapacious birds, and particularly 

 from owls, which frequently fall down chim- 

 neys, perhaps in attempting to get at these nest- 

 lings. 



The swallow lays from four to six white eggs, 

 dotted with red specks ; and brings out her first 

 brood about the last week in June, or the first 

 week in July. The progressive method by which 

 the young are introduced into life is very amu- 

 sing : first, they emerge from the shaft with diffi- 

 culty enough, and often fall down into the rooms 

 below : for a day or so they are fed on the chimney 

 top, and then are conducted to the dead leafless 

 bough of some tree, where, sitting in a row, they 

 are attended with great assiduity, and may then 

 be called perchers. In a day or two more they 

 become fliers, but are still unable to take their 

 own food ; therefore they play about near the 

 place where the dams are hawking for flies ; and 

 when a mouthful is collected, at a certain signal 

 given, the dam and the nestling advance, rising 

 towards each other, and meeting at an angle ; the 

 young one all the while uttering such a little 

 quick note of gratitude and complacency, that a 

 person must have paid very little regard to the 



