114 HIRUNDIKE. 



ber of swallows skimming over some pool for insects, appa- 

 rently gliding along on motionless wings without an effort ; 

 the curving sweep, the abrupt and graceful turn, and the 

 pleased twitter, varied at intervals by the sudden snap of the 

 mandibles closing on some luckless insect ; or, occasionally, 

 in a circling sweep, snatching from the surface of the water 

 some drowning fly, 



** The restless swallow's arrowy flight is seen, 

 Dimpling the sunny waves, then lost amid the green." 



The swallow is a fearless little fellow, and not to be intimi- 

 dated by the approach of any of the birds of prey. The in- 

 stant one is observed intruding on their feeding grounds, a 

 shrill alarm is quickly sounded, as a note of preparation to 

 the surrounding birds, who join in a body, give chase, buffet, 

 strike, and finally drive off the unsuccessful tyrant. The fox 

 stealing stealthily along the briery ditch, the cat silently work- 

 ing her way through the clustering ivy both on murderous 

 deeds intent do not escape the watchful eye of the attentive 

 swallow, who with loud clamour compels them unwillingly to 

 depart. 



Nor is the swallow destitute of song, its short and simple 

 melody being amongst the first to herald in the morning * it 

 is also uttered when on the wing, and in the neighbourhood 

 of the nest. 



Another note of the swallow is its shrill alarm, which 

 Homer has likened to the sound of Ulysses' bow amongst the 

 suitors, when 



'* From his essaying hand the string let fly, 



Twang' d short and sharp, like the shrill swallow's cry." 



Towards the end of summer the swallows collect in consi- 

 derable numbers, admonished by the fading foliage, and the 

 chill blast of the autumnal eve, and prepare to bid a reluctant 

 farewell to the scenes of their once busy cares. Happy bird, 

 in a few days it glides among the flowery acacias of a more 

 genial clime ! 



We may observe that some of the finest gems of modern 

 German melody are written on the return of the swallow. In 

 France and Italy their many claims to protection are disal- 

 lowed, and they are there offered for sale, like plover in our 

 own markets, to satisfy some fastidious palate. 



Habitat Northern Africa. 



