The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 2 | Page 8

owls, which frequently fall down chimneys, perhaps
in attempting to get at these nestlings.
The swallow lays from four to six white eggs, dotted with red specks;
and brings out her first brood about the last week in June, or the first
week in July. The progressive method by which the young are
introduced into life is very amusing: first, they emerge from the shaft
with difficulty enough, and often fall down into the rooms below: for a
day or so they are fed on the chimney-top, and then are conducted to
the dead leafless bough of some tree, where, sitting in a row, they are
attended with great assiduity, and may then be called perchers. In a day
or two more they become flyers, but are still unable to take their own
food; therefore they play about near the place where the dams are
hawking for flies; and, when a mouthful is collected, at a certain signal
given, the dam and the nestling advance, rising towards each other, and
meeting at an angle; the young one all the while uttering such a little
quick note of gratitude and complacency, that a person must have paid
very little regard to the wonders of Nature that has not often remarked
this feat.
The dam betakes herself immediately to the business of a second brood
as soon as she is disengaged from her first; which at once associates

with the first broods of house-martins; and with them congregates,
clustering on sunny roofs, towers, and 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 pattern 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,
resembling 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 excubitor 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 otherwise approach the
nests. Each species of hirundo 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 party of swallows for miles together, which plays before and
behind them, sweeping around them, and collecting all the sculking
insects that are roused by the trampling of the horses' feet: when the

wind blows hard, without this expedient, they are often forced to settle
to pick up their lurking prey.
This species feeds much on little Coleoptera, as well as on gnats and
flies; and often settles on dug ground, or paths, for gravels to grind and
digest its food. Before they depart, for some weeks, to a bird, they
forsake houses and chimneys, and roost in trees; and usually withdraw
about the beginning of October; though some few stragglers may
appear on at times till the first week in November.
Some few pairs haunt the new and open streets of London next the
fields, but do not enter, like the house-martin, the close and crowded
parts of the city.
Both male and female are distinguished from their congeners by the
length and forkedness of their tails. They are undoubtedly the most
nimble of all the species: and when the male pursues the female in
amorous chase they then go beyond their usual speed, and exert a
rapidity