would not be so easy to ascertain the time of breed- 

 ing, were it not for the coming forth of the broods, 

 which appear much about the time, or rather some- 

 what earlier than those of the swallow. The nest- 

 lings are supported in common like those of their 

 congeners, with gnats and other small insects; and 

 sometimes they are fed with libellulce (dragon-flies) 

 almost as long as themselves. In the last week in 

 June we have seen a row of these sitting on a rail 

 near a great pool as perchers ; and so young and 

 helpless, as easily to be taken by hand : but whether 

 the dams ever feed them on the wing, as swallows 

 and house-martins do, we have never yet been able 

 to determine : nor do we know whether they pursue 

 and attack birds of prey. 



When they happen to breed near hedges and in- 

 closures, they are frequently dispossessed of their 

 breeding holes by the house-sparrow, which is on 

 the same account a fell adversary to house-martins. 



These hirundines are no songsters, but rather 

 mute, making only a little harsh noise when a person 

 approaches their nests. They seem not to be of a 

 sociable turn, never with us congregating with their 

 congeners in the autumn. Undoubtedly they breed 

 a second time, like the house-martin and swallow, and 

 withdraw about Michaelmas. 



Though in some particular districts they may 



happen to abound, yet in the whole, in the south of 



England at least, is this much the rarest species. 



i8 



