THE SWALLOW. 
45 
THE SWALLOW. ( Hirundo rustica .) 
The second order of birds, Insessores , or Perching Birds, 
includes an immense number of genera and species. We 
shall notice the more interesting, without troubling our 
readers with their numerous subdivisions. We commence 
with the Swallow, as one of the most common. 
Swallows are easily distinguished from all other birds, 
not only by their general structure, but by their twittering 
note and mode of flying, or rather darting from place to 
place. 
They appear in the temperate regions in April, and build- 
ing in some out-house, or in part of a human dwelling, 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, a small beak, but large wide mouth, for the pur- 
pose of swallowing flying insects, their natural food ; and 
long forked tail and extensive wings, to enable them to 
pursue their prey, belong to all of them. The common 
house Swallow builds under the eaves of houses, or in 
chimneys, near their top : the Martin also builds under 
eaves, and very 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. 
