154 SWALLOWS. 



flies along, sipping the surface of the water; but the swallow 

 alone, in general, washes on the wing, by dropping into a pool 

 for many times together : in very hot weather, house-martens 

 and bank-martens dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and, in soft, sunny 

 weather, sings both perching and flying ; on trees in a kind of 

 concert, and on chimney tops ; is also a bold flier, ranging to 

 distant downs and commons, even in windy weather, which 

 the other species seem much to dislike ; nay, even frequenting 

 exposed seaport towns, and making little excursions over the 

 salt water. Horsemen on wide downs are often closely 

 attended by a little party of swallows for miles together, which 

 plays before and behind them, sweeping around, and collecting 

 all the skulking insects that are roused by the trampling of 

 the horses' feet. When the wind blows hard, without this 

 expedient, they are often forced to settle to pick up their 

 lurking prey. 



This species feeds much on little coleoptera, as well as on 

 gnats and flies, and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for 

 gravels to grind and digest its food. Before they depart, for 

 some weeks, to a bird they forsake houses and chimneys, and 

 roost in trees, and usually withdraw about the beginning of 

 October, though some few stragglers may appear on, at times, 

 till the first week in November. 



rapid, sweeping curve, almost touching her in its lowest inclination ; and 

 they shrieked their hatred as they flew. Now and then, as if enraged by 

 their pertinacity, and her own want of success, she would spring up in 

 the air at them, as they passed, with her best vigour and agility ; but I 

 never knew her catch one." Another correspondent mentions a cat which 

 was more successful. He says, " The thing is, a priori, nearly impossible, 

 and yet we stake our credit on the authenticity of the fact, having seen 

 the whole process of grimalkin's wonderful cunning, and almost miraculous 

 rapidity. It was in the early part of May, 1832, when insects, in conse- 

 quence of the cold, fly low, and, of course, the swallows are forced to 

 Hawk for their prey by skimming the surface of the ground. The wily 

 cat, taking advantage of this, stretches herself upon the sunny grass-plot, 

 with her legs extended, as if she were dead ; the flies collect about her, 

 as flies always do when they can find any animal as patient as my Uncle 

 Toby, to endure their tickling and buzzing ; the simple swallows, dream- 

 ing of no harm, and thinking they can make good a meal, dip down from 

 the barren air, dart with free will upon the flies, when puss, perceiving 

 her prey within reach, makes a spring like a flash of lightning, and 

 strikes down with her paw the poor thoughtless swallow. The best 

 marksmen know how difficult it is to shoot a swallow on the wing ; but 

 the cat found her patience, cunning, and rapidity, well rewarded, by 

 her unerring success whenever a swallow ventured within her reach*" 

 ED. 



