THE SWALLOWS. 101 



birds. Most of their time is spent on the wing, and they 

 drink and even wash while flying. 



They have to come down to get material for their nests, 

 which are made of mud, and generally fixed to buildings, 

 the Swallows having very early ratified an alliance with 

 man, who has always regarded these beautiful and useful 

 birds with favour. 



In the Swallows the male and female are very nearly 

 alike, and the young, although much duller, can generally 

 be recognized in each species by their resemblance to their 

 parents. Swallows are migratory in regions where there 

 is a hard winter, but in warm countries many resident 

 birds are found, as in India. The House-Sparrow is a 

 great enemy to them, seizing on their nests, and where 

 that bird becomes common the Swallows are not long in 

 disappearing from houses. People who are fond of the 

 Swallows should keep Sparrows rigidly in check, and put 

 up little ledges in suitable places to afford foundations for 

 the Swallows' nests it is easy to see where they prefer 

 to build. The dirt made by the birds need be no draw- 

 back, as it is easy to fix a board under the nest to catch it. 

 If thus kindly treated, Swallows will frequent the same 

 house for years, and be of great service in destroying mos- 

 quitoes and flies. 



Swallows are, of course, quite unsuited to captivity, 

 but, as some one of my readers may be public-spirited 

 enough to try to introduce some of these charming and 

 useful birds into the few countries where they are not yet 

 found, it is just as well to mention that they can be kept, 

 even in cages, for several months, though I believe they 



