OF SELBOENE, 
193 
and exerting the most sudden turns and quick evolutions. 
AvenueSj and long walks under hedges, and pasture fields, 
and mown meadows where cattle graze, are her delight, 
especially if there are trees interspersed ; because in such 
spots insects most abound. When a fly is taken a smart 
snap from her bill is heard, resembling the noise at the 
shutting of a watchcase ; but the motion of the mandibles 
is too quick for the eye. 
The swallow, probably the male bird, is the excuhitor to 
house martins, and other little birds, announcing the ap- 
proach of birds of prey. For as soon as a hawk appears, 
with a shrill alarming note he calls all the swallows and 
martins about him ; who pursue in a body, and buffet and 
strike their enemy till they have driven him from the vil- 
lage, darting down from above on his back, and rising in 
a perpendicular line in perfect security. This bird also will 
sound the alarm, and strike at cats when they climb on the 
roofs of houses, or otherwise approach the nests. Each 
species of Hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping the sur- 
face of the water ; but the swallow alone, in general, washes 
on the wing, by dropping into a pool for many times to- 
gether : in very hot weather house martins and bank martins 
dip and wash a little. 
The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny 
weather sings both perching and flying ; on trees in a kind 
of concert, and on chimney tops : is also a bold flyer, ranging 
to distant downs and commons even in windy weather, 
which the other species seem much to dislike ; nay, even 
frequenting exposed seaport towns, and making little ex- 
cursions over the salt water. Horsemen on wide downs are 
often closely attended by a little party of swallows for miles 
together, which plays before and behind them, sweeping 
around, and collecting all the skulking insects that are 
roused by the trampling of the horses^ feet, when the wind 
blows hard ; without this expedient, they are often forced 
to settle to pick up their lurking prey. 
This species feeds much on little Coleoptera, as well as 
on gnats and flies j and often settles on dug ground, or 
o 
