272 THE SWALLOW, 
ing a brood of young being comparatively low in price, while those which 
are quite new and nearly white are held in such esteem that they are worth 
their weight in silver. ; 
In the British Museum may be seen a very fine specimen of the nest of 
the Esculent Swallow, comprehending a mass of the nests still adhering to 
the rock. It is rather remarkable that the birds have a habit of building 
these curious nests in horizontal layers. 
The Esculent Swallow is a small bird, and its colour is brown on the 
upper parts of the body, and white beneath. The extremity of the tail is 
‘greyish white. The British Museum possesses specimens of all the Swal- 
lows which are known to make these curious edible nests. 
THE elegantly-shaped and beautifully-coloured SWALLOW may be readily 
distinguished from any of its British relations by the very great elongation 
of the feathers which edge its tale, and which form nearly two-thirds of the 
bird’s entire length, 
SWALLOW.—(Hirundo rustica.) 
It is the most familiar of all the Hirundinide of England, and from its 
great familiarity with man, and the trustfulness with which it fixes its domi- 
cile under the shelter of human habitations, is generally held as an almost 
sacred bird, in common with the robin and the wren. 
The Swallow wages a never-ceasing war against many species of insects. 
au seems to be as capricious in its feeding as are the roach and other river 
sh. 
The nest of the Swallow is always placed in some locality where it is 
effectually sheltered from wind and rain. Generally it is constructed under 
the eaves of houses, but as it is frequently built within disused chimneys, it 
has given to the species the popular title of Chimney Swallow. The bird is 
probably attracted to the chimney by the warmth of some neighbour fire. 
_The nest is composed externally of mud or clay, which is brought by the 
bird in small lumps and stuck in irregular rows so as to build up the sides of 
its little edifice. There is an attempt at smoothing the surface of the nest 
but each Jump of clay is easily distinguishable upon the spot where it has 
been stuck, While engaged at the commencement of its labours. the 
Swallow clings perpendicularly to the wall of the house or chimney, clinging 
