OF BIRDS. 
their young ones as they fly, and warble to them 
in the moll: expreflive manner, as it were to ani¬ 
mate their endeavours, by the affurance of pro¬ 
tection. 
As an i.nftance of their ardent attachment to 
their young, Boerhaave relates, that a Swallow 
that had been abfent to get provifions, at his re¬ 
turn finding the houfe on fire, to which his ned 
was fixed, darted through the flame*, to feed, and 
protect his offspring. 
Though Swallows pafs much of their time upon 
the wing, yet they often repofe themfelves upon 
the roofs of houfes, chimnies, trees, and fome- 
times on the ground. 
In England, towards the clofe of fummer, they 
have been obferved to pafs the night upon alders, 
and aquatic trees, or fhrubs; for this purpofe they 
choofe the lowed branches that are mod fheltered 
from the wind. 
Two gentlemen, who fpent a night at Maiden¬ 
head-bridge in September, went by torch-light to 
an adjacent ifle, and in half an hour brought away 
50 dozen. They had only to draw the willow 
twigs through their hands, the birds did not at¬ 
tempt to efcape : if it be faid that thefe birds were 
affembled in this manner, in order to plunge un¬ 
der the water, it will be objected, that in that 
I 4 cafe, 
