302 Hirundinidce. 



an outhouse are deemed good substitutes : for the same reason 

 the Germans style it ' Die Ranch Schwalbe,' or ' Smoke Swallow/ 

 and the Swedes Ladu-Svala, or ' Barn Swallow.' In Spain it is 

 Golondrina, and in Portugal Andoinnha. Professor Skeat says 

 that our word ' Swallow/ as well as the German and Danish 

 names for this bird, signifies * tosser about/ ' mover to and fro/ 

 and is allied to the Greek <ra\eveu>, ' to toss up and down like a 

 ship at sea/ 



Its great power of wing enables it to visit very distant countries. 

 Passing the colder months of winter in the interior of Africa, as 

 spring advances it migrates northwards and penetrates almost to 

 the frozen seas and shores lying near the North Pole. In this 

 country we may generally observe one or two pioneers arriving in 

 advance of the main body ; and so regularly does this occur that 

 there is scarcely a European language which does not contain 

 the old Spanish proverb, ' One Swallow does not make summer/ 

 Flies and gnats of many species form its constant food, and often- 

 times it has been seen to take a hive bee on the wing, to the 

 natural indignation of the bee-master : but Mr. Harting tells us 

 of a Swallow shot in the act of that delinquency, that was found 

 on dissection to have its stomach literally crammed with drones, 

 but not a vestige of a working bee was to be found there.* 

 Perhaps the sagacious bird had discovered that the former were 

 unprotected with stings. 



In fine weather it flies so high as to be barely detected from 

 below, and this is a well-known signal that no storms arc at 

 hand ; for at such times it is in pursuit of high- soaring insects 

 which are wonderfully susceptible of atmospheric changes, and 

 descend to the earth when clouds begin to gather: when therefore 

 the Swallow flies low, we know that it has followed its victims 

 downwards, and that rain is not far off. But it is only in the 

 bright sunshine, and under cloudless skies, that this joyous bird 

 seems to exult ; then you may see it wheel through the air, 

 or skim over the water, and drink and bathe while on the wing, 

 and scatter the bright drops over its shining plumage ; and it is 

 * ' Birds of Middlesex,' p. 124 ; ' Our Summer Migrants,' p. 172. 



