182 RUFOUS SWALLOW. 



these nests occurred to Dr. Kruper and myself, in a 

 cave at the entrance to the little Klissoura. Fastened 

 to the roof of this cave, (which was on the face of a 

 low cliff, and not easy of access,) we espied a very 

 good nest of H. rufula, (Daurica,) upon which Dr. 

 Kruper proceeded to operate with a penknife, whilst 

 I placed my hand over the mouth of the passage. 

 Presently something that felt cold, like a dog's nose, 

 began rubbing against the palm. On withdrawing the 

 hand a thick snake poked his head out of the aperture, 

 looked around for awhile, and then popped in again. 

 He was in very good quarters, and evidently intended 

 to take a lease of the premises, which just suited him, 

 as he could coil himself up in the bulb of the retort, 

 with his head and neck stretched out along the passage, 

 in readiness for any emergency. We soon had him 

 sprawling on the floor of the cave, when it became 

 apparent that he had swallowed a full-grown young 

 Swallow; the other three being in all probability destined 

 for a similar fate. The sensations of those wretched 

 little victims, lying in such close contact with their 

 horrible enemy, must have been somewhat akin to those 

 of Ulysses and his companion in the cave of Polyphemus. 

 In the destruction of the nest two of them made their 

 escape; the fourth was captured and preserved by 

 Kruper, together with the first, which, on being cut 

 out of the body of the snake, was found to be very 

 little injured as a specimen. The walls of the cave 

 were smooth and nearly perpendicular; the roof at 

 least seven feet above the floor, and no cracks visible; 

 how then could this monster have wriggled himself 

 into such a well-stocked larder?" 



Mr. Simpson further informs us that every European 

 species of Hirundo and Cypselas (except, perhaps, H. 



