52 
SWALLOWS* 
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 exertion 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 comer 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 conceived 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 
