OF SELBORNE 169 



graze, are her delight, especially if there are trees inter- 

 spersed ; because in such spots insects most abound. 

 When a fly is taken a smart snap from her bill is heard, 

 resembling the noise at the shutting of a watch-case ; but 

 the motion of the mandibles are too quick for the eye. 



The swallow, probably the male bird, is the excuhiior 

 to house-martins, and other little birds, announcing the 

 approach of birds of prey. For as soon as an hawk ap- 

 pears, with a shrill alarming note he calls all the swallows 

 and martins about him ; who pursue in a body, and buffet 

 and strike their enemy till they have driven him from the 

 village, darting down from above on his back, and rising 

 in a perpendicular line in perfect secuiity. This bird also 

 will sound the alarm, and strike at cats when they chmb 

 on the roofs of houses, or otherwise approach the nests. 

 Each species of hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping 

 the surface of the water ; but the swallow alone, in 

 general, washes on the wing, by dropping into a pool 

 for many times together : in very hot weather house- 

 martins and bank-martins dip and wash a little. 



The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny 

 weather sings both perching and flying ; on trees in a 

 kind of concert, and on chimney-tops : is also a bold 

 flyer, ranging to distant downs and commons even in 

 windy weather, which the other species seem much to 

 dislike ; nay, even frequenting exposed sea-port towns, 

 and making little excursions over the salt water. Horse- 

 men on mde downs are often closely attended by a little 

 party of swallows for miles together, which plays before 

 and behind them, sweeping around, and collecting all the 

 skulking insects that are roused by the trampling of the 

 horses' feet : when the wind blows hard, without this ex- 

 pedient, they are often forced to settle to pick up their 

 lurking prey. 



This species feeds much on little coleoptera, as well as on 



55 — r» 



