son must have paid very little regard to the wonders 

 of nature that has not often remarked this feat. 



The dam betakes herself immediately to the busi- 

 ness of 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 con- 

 gregates, 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 the swallow is a most in- 

 structive pattern of unwearied industry and affec- 

 tion ; 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 exerting 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, resem- 

 bling 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, 



5 



r- 



