164 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



a second brood as soon as she is disengaged from her first ; 

 which at once associates with the first broods of house- 

 martins; and with them congregates, clustering on sunny 

 roofs, 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 affection ; 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 executing 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 

 shutting of a watch-case ; but the motion of the mandibles 

 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, 

 washes on the wing, by dropping into a pool for many 

 times together ; in very hot weather house-martins and 

 bank-martins dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny 



