120 BRITISH BIRDS 



the sides of streams and marshes, and on downs and waste lands, 

 the swallow alone comes direct to us to deliver the glad message, 

 so that even the sick and aged and infirm, who can no longer leave 

 their beds or rooms, are able to hear it. What wonder that we 

 cherish a greater affection for, and are more intimate with, the swal- 

 low than with our other feathered fellow-creatures I 



The swallow is very evenly distributed over the whole of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, but the date of his arrival varies considerably 

 in different districts. In the south of England he makes his 

 appearance early in April, and arrives in the northern counties 

 about the middle of that month, but in the north of Scotland not 

 until the first week in May. He is most abundant about villages 

 and large country-houses and farms ; but wherever human habita- 

 tions exist, however modest in size they may be, he is to be met 

 with. Swallows are eminently gregarious, and even during the 

 breeding season all the birds inhabiting one neighbourhood are 

 accustomed to feed and practise their aerial exercises in company. 

 At this season their gatherings are, however, intermittent, and in 

 part accidental. "Where flying insects are abundant the swallows 

 quicky gather. At one time of the day they may be seen coursing 

 up and down the lanes and roads and village streets, gliding close 

 to the ground with great speed ; in rough weather they will assemble 

 in scores or hundreds on the sheltered side of a wood, or lane, or 

 a row of elms ; but on a warm, damp day, they frequent the 

 meadows and low grounds near the water, where insects are most 

 abundant. 



The swallow has a variety of sharp little chirps and twittering 

 notes, and a loud, startled, double alarm-note, uttered at the appear- 

 ance of a hawk speeding through the air, or at sight of a prowling 

 cat. The appearance of a hawk excites as much anger as fear, and 

 he generally goes in pursuit of it ; but the note is understood by 

 other small birds, and has the effect of sending them quickly into 

 hiding. The song, uttered sometimes on the wing, but more fre- 

 quently when perched, is very charming, and seems more free and 

 spontaneous than that of any bird possessing a set song, the notes 

 leaping out with a heartfelt joyousness which is quite irresistible. 

 The sound differs in quality from that of other birds ; it is, perhaps, 

 more human : a swallow-like note may be heard in some of the 

 most beautiful contralto voices. The dozen or more notes com- 

 posing the song end with a little jarring trill, so low as to be hardly 

 audible. 



