NATURAL HtSTORY OF S^inORNB, 165 



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

 of concert, and on chimney tops : is also a bold flyer, 

 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 littly party of 

 swallows for miles together, which plays before and behind 

 them, sweeping around them, 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. 



Some few pairs haunt the new and open streets of 

 London next the fields, but do not enter, like the house- 

 martin, the close and crowded parts of the city. 



Both male and female are distinguished from their 

 congeners by the length and forkedness of their tails. 

 They are undoubtedly the most nimble of all the species : 

 and when the male pursues the female in amorous chase, 

 they then go beyond their usual speed, and exert a rapidity 

 almost too quick for the eye to follow. 



After this circumstantial detail of the life and discerning 

 a-Topy-rj of the swallow, I shall add, for your farther 

 amusement, an anecdote or two not much in favour of her 

 sagacity : — 



A certain swallow built for two years together on the 



