SWALLOWS. 195 



wonders of Nature that has not often remarked 

 this feat. 



The dam betakes herself immediately to the 

 business of a second brood, as soon as she is dis- 

 engaged from her first ; which at once associates 

 with the first broods of house-martins ; and with 

 them congregates, clustering on sunny roof s,towers, 

 and trees. This hirundo brings out her second 

 brood towards the middle and end of August. 



All the summer long is the swallow a most 

 instructive pattern of unwearied industry and af- 

 fection ; for, from morning to night, while there 

 is a family to be supported, she spends the whole 

 day in skimming close to the ground, and exert- 

 ing the most sudden turns and quick evolutions. 

 Avenues, and long walks under hedges, and 

 pasture-fields, and mown meadows where cattle 

 graze, are her delight, especially if there are trees 

 interspersed ; because in such spots insects most 

 abound. When a fly is taken, a smart snap from 

 her bill is heard, resembling the noise at the shut- 

 ting of a watch-case ; but the motion of the man- 

 dibles is too quick for the eye. 



The swallow, probably the male bird, is the 

 excubitor to house-martins, and other little birds, 

 announcing the approach of birds of prey. For 

 as soon as a hawk appears, with a shrill alarming 

 note, he calls all the swallows and martins about 

 him ; who pursue in a body, and buffet and strike 

 their enemy till they have driven him from the 

 village, darting down from above on his back, and 

 rising in a perpendicular line in perfect security. 

 This bird also will sound the alarm, and strike at 

 cats when they climb on the roofs of houses, or 

 otherwise approach the nests. Each species of 

 hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping the surface 

 of the water ; but the swallow alone, in general, 

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