176 THE NATURAI. HISTORY 



while eggs. But as this species is cryptogame, carrying on 

 the business of nidification, incubation, and the support 

 of its young in the dark, it would not be so easy to 

 ascertain the time of breeding, were it not for the coming 

 forth of the broods, which appear much about the time, 

 or rather somewhat eariier than those of the swallow. 

 The nestlings are supported in common like those of 

 their congeners, with gnats and other small insects ; and 

 sometimes they are fed with libellulse (dragon-flies) alniost 

 as long as themselves. In the last week in June we have 

 seen a row of these sitting on a rail near a great pool as 

 perchers ; and so young and helpless, as easily to be 

 taken by hand : but whether the dams ever feed them on 

 the wing, as swallows and house-martins do, we have 

 never yet been able to determine ; nor do we know 

 whether they pursue and attack birds of prey. 



When they happen to breed near hedges and enclos- 

 ures, they are dispossessed of their breeding holes by the 

 iiouse-sparrow, which is on the same account a fell 

 adversary to house-martins. 



These hinindines are no songsters, but rather mute, 

 making only a little harsh noise when a person 

 approaches their nests. They seem not to be of a 

 sociable turn, never with us congregating with their con- 

 geners in the autumn. Undoubtedly they breed a 

 second time, hke the house-martin and swallow ; and 

 withdraw about Michaelmas. 



Though in some particular districts they may happen 

 to abound, yet in the whole, in the south of England at 

 least, is this much the rarest species. For there are few 

 towns or large villages but what abound with house- 

 martins ; few churches, towers, or steeples, but what are 

 haunted by some swifts ; scarce a hamlet or single 

 cottage-chimney that has not its swallow ; while the bank- 

 martins, scattered here and there, live a sequestered life 



