SWALLOW. 173 



often^ especially in clear fine weather, they may be seen high up in the air, 

 almost like specks, wheeling in everchanging gyrations. The Swallow 

 catches as much of its food over the dry laud as it does over water, 

 more so perhaps than the Martin, and is fond of large meadows sprinkled 

 with trees, especially those containing a fish-pond or a sluggish stream. 

 The Swallow certainly has more command over itself in the air than the 

 Martin; its wings and tail are longer, and enable it to twist and turn 

 with surprising quickness. Its general flight also seems performed with 

 less labour ; it appears to swim through the air propelled by an invisible 

 power. Dixon thus writes of the flight of this bird : — " How gracefully the 

 Swallows fly. See them coursing over the daisy-spangled grass-fields — 

 now skimming just over the surface of the grass, then with a rapid stroke 

 of their long wings mounting into the air and hovering a few moments 

 just above your head, displaying their rich white and chestnut under 

 plumage. Then they chase each other seemingly for very joyfulness, 

 uttering their sharp twittering notes as if exulting in the bright sunshine 

 and the abundance of food. Now they hover for a moment just like a 

 little Kestrel, or, closing their wings, dart downwards with the velocity 

 of a Sparrow-Hawk; anon they flit rapidly over the neighbouring pool, 

 dipping themselves in its imruffled surface, and marking each dip with a 

 ring on the water. How easily they turn and glide over the hedges, 

 speed across the pastures and return, dart under the hanging branches of 

 the tall elms, or chase the flies round the feeding cattle ; never resting, 

 never weary. You frequently see them glide rapidly along a few inches 

 from the ground, then with a sidelong motion mount aloft, to dart down- 

 wards, like an animated meteor, their plumage glowing like silver in the 

 sun, and the row of white spots on the fully spread tail coming out in 

 bold contrast with the darker feathers." The Swallow not unfrequently 

 alights upon the ground, on a roof, or the dead branch of a tree, but is 

 exceedingly awkward, especially when on the ground. Its short legs 

 prevent it from walking or hopping, and every movement that it essays 

 is always accompanied by a motion oi, the wings. It sometimes alights 

 at little pools on the roadside, but usually drinks on the wing when 

 skimming over the water. The Swallow is a very early riser, and may be 

 seen abroad at dawn almost before the Goatsucker has gone off to its 

 retreat ; and he continues his labours into the dusk, until he can no longer 

 detect the ' passing flies. Swallows often amuse themselves by mobbing 

 large birds, and at such a time their powers o£ flight may be witnessed to 

 perfection. It is a pretty sight to see a swarm of these little creatures in 

 wrathful but perfectly harmless chase of a Hawk or a Cuckoo high up in 



the blue sky. 



The usual note of the Swallow is loud, somewhat resembling the word 

 hwet, occasionally, if the bird is excited, repeated once or twice; but 



