BIRDS. 
195 
THE SWALLOW. (Hirundo rustica.) 
From the low-roof d cottage ridge, 
See the chattering Swallow spring ; 
Darting through the one-arch'd bridge, 
Quick she dips her dappled wing. 
CUNNINGHAM. 
SWALLOWS are easily distinguished from all other birds, 
not only by their general structure, but by their twitter- 
ing note and mode of flying, or rather darting from place 
to place. 
They appear in Britain in April, and building in some 
out-house, or, in part of a human dwelling, they lay their 
eggs and hatch their young. About August they disap- 
pear, and do not return till the following spring. Swal- 
lows kept in a cage moult about Christmas, and seldom 
live till spring. 
