152 SWALLOWS. 



consists, like that of the house-marten, of a crust, or shell, 

 composed of dirt, or mud, mixed with short pieces of straw, to 

 render it tough and permanent ; with this difference, that 

 whereas the shell of the marten is nearly 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 shews all 

 day long, in ascending and descending with security through 

 so narrow a pass. When hovering over the mouth of the 

 funnel, the vibrations of her wings, acting on the confined air, 

 occasion a rumbling like thunder. It is not improbable 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 chimneys, 

 perhaps in attempting to get at these nestlings. * 



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 amusing : 

 first they emerge from the shaft with difficulty enough, and 

 often fall down into the rooms below ; for a clay 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 



* Swallows have a strong attachment to places where they once found 

 security, and sometimes make their nests in curious situations. At Blois, 

 in France, a chimney, which had a moving iron top placed over it to 

 prevent smoking, became, in consequence of the fireplace being bricked 

 up, a safe place for building in; and, no doubt, the birds discovered that 

 it was such. Within the very hood, or top of this machine, swinging 

 about with every wind, and making a most hideous noise, swallows have 

 built their nests for the last two years, 1830 and 1831 ; and often, for 

 five minutes or more, when the wind was high, they have been noticed 

 in vain attempting to get into it, the constant motion preventing them 

 from entering their airy dwelling. The force of habit must be very 

 strong indeed to induce birds to choose so inconvenient a situation for 

 incubation, No doubt, however, the feelings of security overcome many 

 considerations. ED. 



