SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE GENUS ARTAMUS. 
the feet are proportionally stronger; and we have seen that these 
birds sometimes feed “ starling like.” The swallows are more 
awkward; but those of Britain frequently settle and pick up 
insects from bare ground, or about parcels of dung on roads ; and 
m a note to Wilson’s North American Ornithology, we stated, 
that several hundreds of the H. riparia were collected upon the 
flat and sandy beach of the Solway, upon a space not exceeding 
two acres, feeding on a small fly that bad apparently come newly 
o existence, and covered the sands in immense profusion. “ Horse- 
men, * writes White, “ on wide downs, are often closely attended 
by a little party of swallows for miles together, which plays before 
hem and behind them, sweeping around and collecting all the 
s u mg 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, and pick up their lurking prey.” Sonnerat’s 
description of the daring of Artamus, and its attacks on all 
intruders, is characteristic also of the swallows. “ The swallow ” 
says White, “ probably the male bird, is the excubitor to the house 
mar ens and other little birds, announcing the approach of birds 
o prey. For as soon as a hawk appears, with a shrill alarming 
note he calls all the swallows and martens about him, who pursue 
in a body, and buffet and strike them enemy till they have driven 
him from the village, darting down from above on his back, and 
rising in a perpendicular line, in perfect security and Wilson 
relates, “The purple marten is the terror of crows, hawks, and 
eagles. These he attacks wherever they make their appearance, 
and with such violence and rapidity, that they instantly have 
muse to flight. Mr. Gilbert’s description of the manner in 
which A Uucopygialh feeds its young, is exactly that of our com- 
mon swallow. Every observer must have observed the pairs or 
branch T “T’ ^ y0U “ g swalWs ’ Polled on some dead 
n tlr w'l ’ °V' a ' ng ’c 0V bar " r °° f ’ and fed the parents ; 
and Mr. Goulds figure of the young is a counterpart of what 
may e seen every autumn in this country. The familiarity of 
swallows about dwelling places is also great; and they abound 
and are favourites, like the Australian birds, from similar causes. 
he presence of man and animals collects insects; and the 
54 
* P. ] /0, quarto edition. 
