SWALLOWS. 
251 
the great house-bell was hung, under a wooden cover, fastened 
to the north wall of the house : it was a large bell, and was 
rung several times a day, to call the servants to their meals. 
Under the wooden cover of this bell, the same Swallow, it 
is believed, which had formerly built on the bracket for the 
lamp, built a nest for several years, and never was in the 
least disturbed by the ringing of the bell, or the rattling of 
the rope. 
One of the chimneys in a house at Blois, in France, was 
surmounted by an old moving iron chimney-pot, placed there 
to prevent it from smoking ; the fire-place with which it 
communicated having been bricked up, it became a safe place 
for building in. Accordingly, as such, it was pitched upon 
by a couple of Swallows, and in it, moved as it was by every 
wind, and making at every motion a dismal creaking noise, 
for two successive years did they build their nest ; and often 
were they seen, for minutes together, when the wind was 
high, trying in vain to get into it, its constant motion 
rendering entrance an affair of some difficulty. 
Timid as they appear to be, when occasion calls for exer- 
tion and courage they can not only fight a good battle, but 
manifest a good deal of generalship. A pair of Martins, 
having built in a corner of a window, one of which, from a 
remarkable white feather in one of its wings, was known to 
be the same bird which had built there the year before, had 
no sooner finished their nest, than a strange Swallow con- 
ceived the plan of taking possession of the property, and 
once or twice actually succeeded in driving the owners out. 
For a week there was constant battling. At length, the 
two rightful owners were observed to be very busily engaged 
in lessening the entrance into the nest, which in a short 
time was so reduced that it was with difficulty they could 
force themselves into it singly. When they had accomplished 
their object, one or other of them always remained within, 
with its bill sticking out, ready to receive any sudden attack. 
The enemy persevered for a week, but at length, finding its 
prospects hopeless, left the pair to enjoy the fruits of their 
forethought. 
