SWALLOWS. 53 



lessening the entrance into the nest, which, in a 

 short time was so reduced, that it was with difficulty 

 they could force themselves into it singly. When 

 they had accomplished their object, one or other of 

 them always remained within, with its bill sticking 

 out, ready to receive any sudden attack. The enemy 

 persevered for a week, but at length, finding its 

 prospects hopeless, left the pair to enjoy the fruits 

 of their forethought. 



The latter of the two preceding anecdotes tends 

 to corroborate a more bold and sagacious measure, 

 adopted by a pair of Swallows, no doubt those of 

 the preceding year; which, on arriving, found their 

 old nest already occupied by a Sparrow, who kept 

 the poor birds at a distance, by pecking at them 

 with its strong beak, whenever they attempted to 

 dislodge it. Wearied, and hopeless of regaining- 

 possession of their own property, they, at last hit 

 upon a plan which effectually prevented the intruder 

 from reaping the reward of its roguery. One morn- 

 ing they appeared with a few more Swallows, their 

 mouths distended with a supply of tempered clay, 

 and, by joint labour, in a short time, actually plas- 

 tered up the entrance-hole, thus punishing the 

 Sparrow with imprisonment, and death, by starva- 

 tion. This instance of apparent reasoning, occured 

 at a rectory-house, in Lancashire; but a similar 

 story is on record, near London, of a pair of Swallows 

 calling in the assistance of their neighbours for the 

 very same purpose. 



Swallows, too, like the Raven, (mentioned vol. i., 

 p. 223), and probably many other birds will, when 

 deprived of their mates, provide themselves with 



