darting- down from above on his back, and rising in 

 a perpendicular line in perfect security. This bird 

 will also sound the alarm and strike at cats when 

 they climb on the roofs of houses, or otherwise 

 approach the nest. 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 also dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft 

 sunny weather sings both perching and flying ; on 

 trees in a kind of concert, and on chimney-tops : it is 

 also a bold flyer, ranging to distant downs and com- 

 mons even in windy weather, which the other spe- 

 cies seem much to dislike ; nay, even frequenting 

 exposed sea-port towns and making little excursions 

 over the salt water. Horsemen on wide downs are 

 often closely attended by a little party of swallows 

 for miles together, which plays before and behind 

 them, sweeping around and collecting all the skulk- 

 ing 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. 



* " Now suddenly he skims the glassy pool, 



Now quaintly dips, and with an arrow's speed 

 Whisks by. I love to lie awake, and hear 

 His morning song twittered to dawning day." 

 6 



