I§4 THE BARN SWALLOW. 



the height of thirty or forty yards, extend their ranks, and continue their 



course. 



I found flocks of Barn Swallows near St. Augustine for several days in 

 succession, until the beginning of December; but after the first frost none 

 were to be seen. These could not have removed many degrees farther south, 

 for want of proper food, and I suspect that numbers of them spend the whole 

 winter along the south coast of the Gulf of Mexico. 



The flight of this species is not less interesting than any other of its cha- 

 racteristics. It probably surpasses in speed that of any other species of the 

 feathered tribes, excepting the Humming Bird. In fine calm weather their 

 circuits are performed at a considerable elevation, with a lightness and ease 

 that are truly admirable. They play over the river, the field, or the city 

 with equal grace, and during spring and summer you might imagine their 

 object was to fill the air around them with their cheerful twitterings. When 

 the weather lowers, they move more swiftly in tortuous meanderings over 

 the meadows, and through the streets of the towns; they pass and repass, 

 now close to the pavement, now along the walls of the buildings, here and 

 there snapping an insect as they glide along with a motion so rapid that you 

 can scarcely follow them with the eye. But try: — There she skims against 

 the wind over the ruffled stream; up she shoots, seizes an insect, and wheel- 

 ing round, sails down the breeze with a rapidity that carries her out of your 

 sight almost in a moment. Noon arrived, and the weather being sultry, 

 round the horse or the cow she passes a thousand times, seizing on each tor- 

 menting fly. Now she seems fain to enter the wood, so close along its edge 

 does she pursue her prey; but spying a Crow, a Raven, a Hawk or an Eagle, 

 off she shoots with doubled speed after the marauder, and the next instant is 

 seen lashing, as it were, the object of her anger with admirable dexterity, 

 after which, full of gaiety and pride, the tiny thing returns towards the earth, 

 forming to herself a most tortuous path in the air. 



On the ground the movements of this Swallow are by no means awkward, 

 although, when compared with those of other birds, they seem rather ham- 

 pered. It walks by very short steps, and aids itself with its wings. Should 

 it be necessary to remove to the distance of a few yards, it prefers flying. 

 When alighted on a twig, it shews a peculiar tremulous motion of the wings 

 and tail. 



The song of our Barn Swallow resembles that of the Chimney Swallow of 

 England so much that I am unable to discern the smallest difference. Both 

 sing on the wing and when alighted, and the common tweet which they utter 

 when flying off is precisely the same in both. Their food also is similar; at 

 least that of our bird consists entirely of insects, some being small coleoptera, 



