SWALLOW. 167 



gladdens our oral sense less than the unseen little warblers 

 that, hidden within the covert of a neighbouring bush, pour 

 out their liquid melody on the ear ; yet these delight the 

 eye by their ever-glancing flight, passing and repassing us 

 with noiseless wing ; sometimes dipping their glossy wings 

 into the stream, or sweeping an insect from its surface, then, 

 shooting past us quicker than the eye can follow, they turn 

 and wheel as if delighting to evade our eager sight. 



We always miss these active little birds, and feel, when 

 they have departed from us, an autumn scene is blank and 

 cold without them. 



The rich and glossy colouring that distinguishes the Swal- 

 low from the other species of British hirundinidce, is seldom to 

 be perceived unless the bird is taken in the hand, or the spec- 

 tator be so favourably placed upon a bridge or cliff that he 

 can look down upon it as it skims beneath him ; then, if the 

 sun shines upon its glossy plumage, the vivid violet reflec- 

 tions upon the feathers of the back and scapulars may be 

 plainly seen. 



When the time for their annual autumnal migrations 

 arrives, these birds collect in large companies of many hun- 

 dreds, in anticipation of their approaching journey. We 

 have known them for many years to collect in this manner 

 on a particular house during several successive mornings, 

 twittering and chirping as if arranging their course, ascer- 

 taining their geographical position, or settling the particulars 

 of their journey ; after a few days thus spent, they have 

 suddenly departed. 



The house so long selected for the place of rendezvous 

 by the Swallows of this district, is situated on the southern 

 outskirts of the town, and about nine miles from the nearest 

 sea-coast, the coast of Suffolk. Whether these birds take 

 their flight directrfrom this spot for their winter quarters in 

 warmer latitudes, or whether they pursue their tour by easy 



