The Swallow. 23\) 
ing note and mode of flying, or rather darting from place 
to place. 
They appear in Britain in April, and build in some 
outhouse, or, in part of a human dwelling, where they 
lay their eggs and hatch their young. About August 
they disappear, and do not return till the following 
spring. Swallows kept in a cage moult about Christmas, 
and seldom live till spring. 
There are several species of the Swallow : the general 
characters of which are a small beak, but large, wide 
mouth, for the purpose of swallowing flying insects, their 
natural food ; and long forked tail and extensive wings, 
to enable them to pursue their prey. The common Swal- 
low builds under the eaves of houses, or in chimneys, near 
their top ; it is frequently called the Chimney Swallow 
from its preference for the last-mentioned rather sin- 
gular situation-; the Martin also builds under eaves, and 
most commonly against the upper corner or side of our 
very windows, and seems not afraid at the sight of man, 
yet it cannot be tamed, or even kept long in a cage. 
The nature of the Swallow's nest is worthy of close 
observation : how the mud is extracted from the sea- 
shores, rivers, or other watery places ; how masoned and 
formed into a solid building, strong enough to support a 
whole family, and to face the " pelting storm," are won- 
ders which ought to raise our mind to Him who bestowed 
that instinct upon them. 
It is related that a pair of Swallows built their nest 
for two successive years on the handle of a pair of garden 
shears, that were stuck up against the boards of an out- 
house ; and, therefore, must have had their nest spoiled 
whenever the implement was wanted. And what is still 
more strange, a bird of the same species built its nest on 
the wings and body of an owl that happened to hang dead 
and dry from the rafter of a barn, and so loose as to be 
moved by every gust of wind. This owl, with the nest 
on its wings, and with eggs in the nest, was taken to the 
museum of Sir Ashton Leaver as a curiosity. That gen- 
tleman, struck with the singularity of the sight, furnished 
the person who brought it with a large shell, desiring 
him to fix it just where the owl had hung. The man 
