THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 
587 
morning song from the nearest roof, the Sparrows 
announce their presence, the Pigeons coo, and before 
long every bird is awake. Whoever has been accustomed 
to partake of the enjoyments of the bright summer 
mornings at some country farm must agree with me that 
the Swallow with its simple, though joyous song, contri¬ 
butes in no small way to the pleasure of that hour.” 
The Swallow is no sooner wide awake than off it starts 
hunting after insects. When the weather is fine it gene¬ 
rally flies high, and when it is damp usually skims close 
along the ground or over the water, owing to the insects 
being governed by much the same rules. The Swallow 
will follow herds of cattle for miles, and horsemen for 
long distances. It is a bad time for them when there has 
been a succession of wet days, inasmuch as all the 
insects have got out of the way. They then anxiously 
skirt every bush, or hawk close round the houses, to hunt 
up something on which to make a meal; they suffer 
considerably from want of food. It is only in such 
weather that the Swallow can be sad; on bright, sunny 
days it is ever cheerful, and sports with its companions 
the livelong day. This bird shows its courage directly 
any enemy appears in the field. As soon as these birds 
catch sight of the intruder they circle rapidly round it, 
repeating their challenge-cry, “bevist!” thus giving 
other birds ample warning, and placing them on their 
guard, while their battle-cry is the sign for other 
Swallows to take part in the fray. It is true the war is 
not waged with sharp weapons, yet Swallows often succeed 
by mobbing, in driving the enemy from the field, or calling 
more powerful birds to their aid. At the first signal, all 
the Swallows within call assemble together, and in a 
trice the robber, be he feathered or furred, is surrounded 
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