184 
THE BARN" SWALLOW. 
the height of thirty or forty yards, extend their ranks, and continue their 
course. 
I found flocks of Barn Swallows near St. Augustine for several days in 
succession, until the beginning of December ; but after the first frost none 
were to be seen. These could not have removed many degrees farther south, 
for want of proper food, and I suspect that numbers of them spend the whole 
winter along the south coast of the Gulf of Mexico. 
The flight of this species is not less interesting than any other of its cha- 
racteristics. It probably surpasses in speed that of any other species of the 
feathered tribes, excepting the Humming-bird. In fine calm weather their 
circuits are performed at a considerable elevation, with a lightness and ease 
that age truly admirable. They play over the river, the field, or the city 
with equal grace, and during spring and summer you might imagine their 
object was to fill the air around them with their cheerful twitterings. When 
the weather lowers, they move more swiftly in tortuous meandcrings over 
the meadows, and through the streets of the towns ; they pass and repass,, 
now close to the pavement, now along the walls of the buildings, here and' 
there, snapping an insect as they glide along with a motion so rapid that you 
can scarcely follow them with the eye. But try:, — There she skims against 
the wind over the ruffled stream ; up she shoots, seizes an insect, and wheel- 
ing round, sails down the breeze with a rapidity that carries her out of your 
sight almost in a moment. Noon arrives, and the weather being sultry, 
round the horse or the cow she passes a thousand times, seizing on each tor- 
menting fly., Now she seems fain to enter the wood, so close along its edge 
does she pursue her prey ; but spying a Crow, a Raven, a Hawk or an Eagle, 
off she shoots with redoubled speed after the marauder, and the next instant 
is seen lashing, as it were, the object of her anger with admirable dexterity, 
after which, full of gaiety and pride, the tiny thing returns towards the earth, 
forming to herself a most tortuous path in the air. 
On the ground the movements of this Swallow are by no means awkward, 
although, when compared with those of other birds, they seem rather ham- 
pered. It walks by very short steps, and aids itself with its wings. Should 
it be necessary to remove to the distance of a few yards, it prefers flying. 
When alighted on a twig, it shews a peculiar tremulous motion of the wings 
and tail. 
The song of our Barn Swallow resembles that of the Chimney Swallow of 
England so much that I am unable to discern the smallest difference. Both 
sing on the wing and when alighted, *and the common tweet which they utter 
, when flying off is precisely the same in both. Their food also is similar ; at 
least that of our bird consists entirely of insects, some being small coleoptera, 
