THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW 215 



measure from the personal and domestic annoyance of flies and gnats, 

 and what is of infinitely more consequence, they keep down toe 

 numbers of our minute enemies, which, either in the grub or winged 

 state, would otherwise prey on the labors of the husbandman. Since, 

 then, Swallows are guardians of our corn, they should every where be 

 protected by the same popular veneration which in Egypt defends the 

 ibis, and in Holland the Stork. We more frequently hear of unpro- 

 ductive harvests on the Continent than in England ; and it is well 

 known that Swallows are caught and sold as food, in the markets of 

 Spain, France, and Italy. When this practice has been very general 

 and successful, I have little doubt that it has, at times, contributed to 

 a scarcity of corn. In England they are not driven to such resources 

 to furnish their tables. But what apology can be made for those, and 

 many there are, whose education should have taught them more 

 innocent amusements, but who wantonly murder Swallows, under 

 the idle pretence of improving their skill in shooting game ? Besides 

 the cruelty of starving whole nests by killing the dam, they who follow 

 this barbarous diversion would do well to reflect, that by every 

 Swallow they kill, they assist the effects of blasts, mildews, and vermin, 

 in causing a scarcity of bread. 



All the birds of this tribe have been observed to drink as they fly 

 along, sipping the surface of the water ; but the Swallow alone, in 

 general, washes on the wing, by dropping into a pond many times 

 successively. In very hot weather, House-Martins and Bank-Martins, 

 also sometimes dip and wash. 



Swallows feed on small Beetles, as well as on Gnats and Flies ; and 

 often settle on dug ground or paths, for gravel, which assists in grin- 

 ding and digesting their food. Horsemen, on wide downs, are often 

 closely attended, for miles together, by a small party of Swallows ; 

 which play before and behind them, sweeping around, and collecting 

 all the insects that are roused by the trampling of the horse's feet 

 When the wind blows hard, the birds, without this expedient, are 

 often forced to alight, in order to pick up their lurking prey. 



Mr. White informs us, that for some weeks before the Swallows de- 

 part, they (without exceptions) forsake houses and chimneys, and roost 

 in trees; and that they usually withdraw about the beginning of 

 October, though some few stragglers may be seen at times till the 

 first week in November. A few days previously to their departure, 

 they assemble in vast flocks on house-tops, churches, and trees, from 

 which they take their flight. 



I shall conclude the account of this bird with an anecdote related 

 by M. de Buffon. This celebrated writer informs us, that a shoemaker 

 in Basle put a collar on a Swallow, containing an inscription to thii 

 purport : 



" Pretty Swallow, tell me, whither goest thou in winter?" 



and in the ensuing spring he received, by the same courier, the fol- 

 lowing answer : 



44 To Anthony at Athens : Why dost thou inquire T 



