552 SWIFT SWALLOW. Class II. 



in great measure verified. It was believed to 

 have no feet, to live upon the celestial dew, to 

 float perpetually on the Indian air, and to per- 

 form all its functions in that element. 



The Swift actually performs what has been 

 in these enlightened times disproved of the 

 former ; except the small time it takes in sleep- 

 ing, and what it devotes to incubation, every 

 other action is done on the wing. The mate- 

 rials of its nest it collects either as they are car- 

 ried about by the winds, or picks them up from 

 the surface in its sweeping flight. Its food is 

 undeniably the insects that fill the air. Its 

 drink is taken in transient sips from the water's 

 surface. Even its amorous rites are performed 

 on high. Few persons who have attended to 

 them in a fine summer's morning, but must 

 have seen them make their aerial courses at a 

 great height, encircling a certain space with an 

 easy steady motion. On a sudden they fall 

 into each other's embraces, then drop precipi- 

 tate with a loud shriek for numbers of yards. 

 This is the critical conjuncture, and to be no 

 more wondered at, than that insects (a familiar 

 instance) should discharge the same duty in the 

 same element. 



These birds and swallows are inveterate ene- 

 mies to hawks. The moment one appears, they 



