NATURAL HISTORY 
(dragon-flies) almoft as long as themfelves. In the lad week in 
Jv.ne we have feen a row of thefe fitting on a rail near a great pool 
as perchers ; and fo young and helplefs, as eafily to be taken by 
hand ; but whether the dams ever feed them on the wing, as 
fwallows and houfe-martins do, we have never yet been able to 
determine ; nor do we know whether they purfue and attack bird* 
of prey. 
When they happen to breed near hedges and enclofures, they 
are difpolTefTed of their breeding holes by the houfe-fparrow, which 
is on the fame account a fell adverfary to houfe-martins. 
Thefe hirundines are no fongfters, but rather mute, making only 
a little harfli noife when a perfon approaches their nefts. They 
feem not to be of a fociable turn, never with us congregating with 
their congeners in the autumn. Undoubtedly they breed a fecond 
time, like the houfe-martin and fvvallow; and withdraw about 
Michaelmas. 
Though in fome particular diftrifts they may happen to abound, 
yet in the whole, in the fouth of Englmd at lead, is this much the 
rareft fpecles. For there are few towns or large villages but what 
abound with houfe-martins ; few churches, towers, or fteeples, but 
what are haunted by fome fwifts; fcarce a hamlet or fmgle cottage- 
chimney that has not it's fvvallow ; while the bank-martins, fcattered 
here and there, live a fequeftered life among fome abrupt fand-hills, 
and in the banks of fome few rivers. 
Thefe birds have a peculiar manner of flying; flitting about 
with odd jerks, and vacillations, not unlike the motions of a 
butterfly. Doubtlefs the flight of all hirundines is influenced by, 
and adapted to, the peculiar fort of infeds which furnifli their food. 
Hence it would be worth inquiry to examine what particular genus 
of infedls affords the principal food of each refpecffive fpecies of 
fwallow. Notwithftanding 
