THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. VwALAd 
trees.. This Hirundo brings out her second brood towards the 
middle and end of August. 
All the summer long is the swallow a most instructive pat- 
tern of unwearied industry and affection; for, from morning to 
night, while there is a family to be supported, she spends the 
_ whole day in skimming close to the ground, and executing the 
most sudden turns and quick evolutions. Avenues, and long 
walks under hedges, and pasture-fields, and mown meadows 
where cattle graze, are her delight, especially if there are trees 
interspersed; because in such spots insects most abound. 
When a fly is taken a smart snap from her bill is heard, resem- 
bling the noise at the shutting of a watch-case; but the motion 
of the mandibles is too quick for the eye. 
The swallow, probably the male bird, is the excuditor (or 
sentinel) to house-martins, and other little birds, announcing 
the approach of birds of prey. For as soon as a hawk appears, 
with a shrill alarming note he calls all the swallows and martins 
about him; who pursue in a body, and buffet and strike their 
enemy till they have driven him from the village, darting down 
from above on his back, and rising in a perpendicular line in 
perfect security. This bird, also, will sound the alarm, and 
strike at cats when they climb on the roofs of houses, or other- 
wise approach the nests. Each species of //rundo drinks as it 
flies along, sipping the surface of the water; but the swallow 
alone, in general, washes on the wing, by dropping into a pool 
for many times together: in very hot weather house-martins 
and bank-martins dip and wash a little. 
The swallow is a delicate songster, and in soft sunny weather 
sings both perching and flying; on trees in a kind of concert, 
and on chimney-tops: is also a bold flyer, ranging to distant 
downs and commons even in windy weather, which the other 
species seem much to dislike; nay, even frequenting exposed 
seaport towns, and making little excursions over the salt water. 
Horsemen on wide downs are often closely attended by a little 
