OF BIRDS. eD S 
The Swallow, he conceives, chufes this, in 
fome refpects inconvenient fituation, to fecure the 
brood from rapacious birds, particularly owls, 
which frequently fall down chimnies, probably in 
attempting to get at the neftlings. 
When the young Swallows can fly, but are Till 
incapable of providing themfelves with food, they 
play about whilft their parents are chacing flies, 
who, when they have colleded a fufficient quan¬ 
tity, make a fignal, on which, the parent and the 
young, rifling towards each other, meet at an 
angle, and the young one receives the food, utter¬ 
ing a little note, expreflive of gratitude, and af¬ 
fection. They fip water as they fly, and bathe 
upon the wing. 
They attend horfemen for miles together, as 
they ride over the downs, fporting before, behind, 
and wheeling round, and collefting the infects 
which are difturbed by the trampling of the horfes. 
They feed much on fmall' coleopterous, or 
fheath winged infers, and fettle on the ground, 
picking up gravel to digeft their food. 
The Swallow is a pleating fongfter, and flings 
in floft, funny weather, between April and Sep¬ 
tember. A Swallow for two years together built 
ks neft on the handles of a pair of garden (hears. 
Another built its neft on the wings and body 
16 G ‘ 
