in ornithology, a genus of birds of the order of passers. There are 37 species, chiefly distinguished by their colour. The most remarkable are,

1. The rustica, common or chimney-swallow, is distinguished from all the other species by the superior forkiness of its tail, and by the red spot on the forehead and under the chin. The crown of the head, the whole upper part of the body, and the coverts of the wings, are black, glossed with a rich purplish blue, most resplendent in the male: the breast and belly white, and in the male tinged with red: the tail is black; the two middle feathers are plain, the others marked transversely near their ends with a white spot: the exterior feathers of the tail are much longer in the male than in the female. The food of this swallow is the same with the others of its kind, viz. insects. For the taking of these, in their swiftest flight, nature has admirably contrived their several parts: their mouths are very wide to take in flies, &c. in their quickest motion; their wings are long, and adapted for distant and continual flight; and their tails are forked, to enable them to turn the readier in pursuit of their prey. This species is the first comer of all the British hirundines; and appears in general on or about the 13th of April, though now and then a straggler is seen much earlier. This hirundo, though called the chimney-swallow, by no means builds altogether in chimneys, but often within barns and out-houses against the rafters; and so she did in Virgil's time:

Garrula quae tignis nidus suspendat hirundo.

In Sweden she builds in barns, and is called ladu savala, the barn swallow. Besides, in the warmer parts of Europe, there are no chimneys to houses except they are English built: in these countries she constructs her nest in porches, and gate-ways, and galleries, and open halls. Here and there a bird may affect some odd peculiar place: place: but in general with us this species breeds in chimneys; and loves to haunt those stacks where there is a constant fire, no doubt for the sake of warmth. Not that it can subsist in the immediate shaft where there is a fire; but prefers one adjoining to that of the kitchen, and disdains the perpetual smoke of that funnel. Five or six or more feet down the chimney does this little bird begin to form her nest about the middle of May, which consists, like that of the house-martin, of a crust or shell composed of dirt or mud, mixed with short pieces of straw to render it tough and permanent; with this difference, that whereas the shell of the martin is nearly hemispheric, that of the swallow is open at the top, and like half a deep dish: this nest is lined with fine grasses, and feathers which are often collected as they float in the air. Wonderful is the address (Mr White observes) which this adroit bird shows all day long in ascending and descending with security through so narrow a pass. When hovering over the mouth of the funnel, the vibrations of her wings acting on the confined air occasion a rumbling like thunder. It is not improbable that the dam submits to this inconvenient situation below in the shaft, in order to secure her broods from rapacious birds, and particularly from owls, which frequently fall down chimneys, perhaps in attempting to get at these nestlings.

This bird lays from four to fix 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 affluence, 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 she at once associates with the first broods of house-martins; and with them congregates, cluttering 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 exerting 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,

No 154.

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 flitting of a watch-case; but the motion of the mandibles are too quick for the eye.

The swallow, probably the male bird, is the excutor to house-martins and other little birds, announcing the approach of birds of prey. For as soon as an 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, tipping 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 flings both perching and flying; on trees in a kind of concert, and on chimney tops: it is also a bold flyer, ranging to distant towns and commons even in windy weather, which the other species seem much to dislike; nay, even frequenting exposed sea-port 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, and collecting all the scuffling 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. Mr White informs us, that 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 be seen at times till the first week in November. Mr Pennant says, that for a few days previous to their departure, they assemble in vast flocks on house-tops, churches, and trees, from whence they take their flight (a). They are supposed to take up their winter-quarters in Senegal and parts adjacent; and seem to possess in turn the whole of the old continent, being known from Norway to the Cape of Good Hope on the one hand, and from Kamtchatka to India and Japan on the other. They are also found in all parts of North America, migrating north and south, as with us. Kalm says, that in America they build in houses and under the outsides of the roofs; also on the mountains, in such parts of them as project beyond the bottom, as well as under the corners of perpendicular rocks.

2. The tahitica, or Otaheite swallow, is five inches in length; its body is of a brown-black colour with a shining

(a) See Migration.—Concerning the annual disappearance of these birds, however, naturalists have entertained different opinions; a detail of which, as the subject is curious, and would form too long a digression in this place, is reserved for a separate article. See Swallow. Hirundo. shining bluish gloss, the breast of a fulvous purple, the abdomen of a sooty brown; the bill, tail, and legs are black. It inhabits the mountainous parts of Otaheite. See Fig. 1.

3. The sculenta, or edible swallow, according to Buffon, is less than the wren, and only two inches and a quarter in length. The bill is black; the upper parts of the body are brown, the under whitish; the tail is forked, and each feather of it tipped with white; the legs are brown. See Fig. 2.

Mr Latham thinks, that the size as above described is by much too small, as Mr Marsden says that the bird "appears to be the common martin;"—"and (says Mr Latham) we are much inclined to think that it is at least of that size, from the eggs which accompany the nest now in the British museum, which are as big as those of the martin, and of the same colour. However, we cannot dispute the point." The most curious part of the natural history of this bird consists in the nest, which is composed of such materials as render it not only edible, but one of the greatest dainties of the Asiatic epicures.

These nests (of which a particular account is given under the article Birds-Nests) are found in vast numbers in certain caverns, in various isles in the Soolo Archipelago, situated between longitude 117 and 120, latitude 5° and 7°; particularly in three small isles, or rather rocks; in the caverns of which the nests are found fixed to the sides in astonishing numbers. They are also found in amazing quantities on a small island called Toc, in the straits of Sunda; the caverns of which are lined with the nests: but nowhere in greater abundance than about Crooe, near the south end of Sumatra, four miles up a river of that name. But they are not peculiar to the above places: for they are likewise common from Java to Cochinchina on the north, and from the point of Sumatra west, to New Guinea on the east; where the sea is said to be covered with a viscous substance like half-melted glue, which the bird is supposed either to take up from the surface with its bill during flight, or to pick it from the rocks when left there by the waves.—Of these nests, it is said the Dutch alone export from Batavia 1000 pickles (b) every year, which are brought from the isles of Cochinchina, and those lying to the east of them. It is much to be wondered, that, among other luxuries imported by us from the east, the use of these nests should not have found a way to our tables; as being yet so scarce in England as to be kept as rarities in the cabinets of collectors. The bird itself at Sumatra is known by the name of Layonglayong.

4. The borbonica, or wheat-swallow, is about the size of the swift: the plumage above is blackish brown; beneath grey, marked with longitudinal brown spots: the tail is even at the end: the bill and legs are black. This species inhabits the Isle of France; frequenting places sown with wheat, and glades of woods; affecting elevated situations, and frequently seen perched on trees and stones. It follows herds of cattle for the sake of the flies which surround them; and is frequently seen in the wake of ships in great numbers, in

(b) The pickle, or pekul, is about 125 pounds; or, English weight.—See Voy. vol. ii. p. 132.

the road near the isle, no doubt for the same purpose. Hirundo. It is often observed of evenings about the clefts in the mountains, where it is said to pass the night; and where it makes its nest, which is composed of straw and feathers. It lays two eggs, of a grey colour dotted with brown.

5. The francica, or grey-rumped swallow, is in length four inches and a quarter; having the upper parts of the body blackish, the rump and under parts whitish or grey. This species also inhabits the Isle of France, but not in great numbers; and is found chiefly in the neighbourhood of fresh waters. It flies swift; and is seldom observed to perch. It is supposed to rest in the woods at night, being seen about the skirts of them towards evening. It is generally very lean, and not good food.

6. The urbica, or martin, is inferior in size to the chimney-swallow, and its tail much less forked. The head and upper-part of the body, except the rump, is black glossed with blue: the breast, belly, and rump, are white: the feet are covered with a short white down. This is the second of the swallow-kind that appears in our country; and of its manners and economy we have the following curious account in the Rev. Mr White's Natural History of Selborne. "They begin to appear about the 16th of April; and for some time they in general pay no attention to the business of nidification: they play and sport about, either to recruit from the fatigue of their journey, if they do migrate at all; or else that their blood may recover its true tone and texture after it has been so long benumbed by the severities of winter. About the middle of May, if the weather be fine, the martin begins to think in earnest of providing a mansion for its family. The crust or shell of this nest seems to be formed of such dirt or loam as comes most readily to hand, and is tempered and wrought together with little bits of broken straws to render it tough and tenacious. As this bird often builds against a perpendicular wall without any projecting ledge under, it requires its utmost efforts to get the first foundation firmly fixed, so that it may safely carry the superstructure. On this occasion the bird not only clings with its claws, but partly supports itself by strongly inclining its tail against the wall, making that a fulcrum; and thus steadied, it works and plasters the materials into the face of the brick or stone. But then, that this work may not, while it is soft and green, pull itself down by its own weight, the provident architect has prudence and forbearance enough not to advance her work too fast; but by building only in the morning, and by dedicating the rest of the day to food and amusement, gives it sufficient time to dry and harden. About half an inch seems to be a sufficient layer for a day. Thus careful workmen, when they build mud-walls (informed at first perhaps by this little bird) raise but a moderate layer at a time, and then desist; lest the work should become top-heavy, and so be ruined by its own weight. By this method in about 10 or 12 days is formed an hemispheric nest, with a small aperture towards the top, strong, compact, and warm; and perfectly fitted for all the purposes for which it was intended. But then nothing is more common than for the house-sparrow, as soon as the shell is finished, to seize on it as its own, to eject the owner, and to line it after its own manner. After so much labour is bestowed in erecting a mansion, as nature seldom works in vain, martins will breed on for several years together in the same nest, where it happens to be well sheltered and secure from the injuries of the weather. The shell or crust of the nest is a sort of rustic-work, full of knobs and protuberances on the outside; nor is the inside of those that I have examined smoothed with any exactness at all; but is rendered soft and warm, and fit for incubation, by a lining of small straws, grasses, and feathers; and sometimes by a bed of moss interwoven with wool. In this nest they tread or engender, frequently during the time of building; and the hen lays from three to five white eggs. At first, when the young are hatched, and are in a naked and helpless condition, the parent birds, with tender affluence, carry out what comes away from their young. Was it not for this affectionate cleanliness, the nestlings would soon be burnt up and destroyed in so deep and hollow a nest by their own caustic excrement. In the quadruped creation the same neat precaution is made use of, particularly among dogs and cats, where the dams lick away what proceeds from their young. But in birds there seems to be a particular provision, that the dung of nestlings is enveloped in a tough kind of jelly, and therefore is the easier conveyed off without soiling or daubing. Yet, as nature is cleanly in all her ways, the young perform this office for themselves in a little time, by thrusting their tails out at the aperture of their nest. As the young of small birds presently arrive at their parrhes, or "full growth," they soon become impatient of confinement, and sit all day with their heads out at the orifice, where the dams, by clinging to the nest, supply them with food from morning to night. For a time the young are fed on the wing by their parents; but the feat is done by so quick and almost imperceptible a flight, that a person must have attended very exactly to their motions, before he would be able to perceive it. As soon as the young are able to shift for themselves, the dams immediately turn their thoughts to the busyness of a second brood; while the first flight, shaken off and rejected by their nurses, congregate in great flocks, and are the birds that are seen clustering and hovering on sunny mornings and evenings round towers and steeples, and on the roofs of churches and houses. These congregations usually begin to take place about the first week in August; and therefore we may conclude that by that time the first flight is pretty well over. The young of this species do not quit their abodes all together; but the more forward birds get abroad some days before the rest. These approaching the eaves of buildings, and playing about before them, make people think that several old ones attend one nest. They are often capricious in fixing on a nesting-place, beginning many edifices, and leaving them unfinished; but when once a nest is completed in a sheltered place, it serves for several seasons. Those which breed in a ready finished house, get the start in hatching of those that build new by 10 days or a fortnight. These industrious artificers are at their labours in the long days before four in the morning; when they fix their materials, they plaster them on with their chins, moving their heads with a quick vibratory motion.—They dip and wash as they fly sometimes in very hot weather, but not so frequently as swallows. Martins love to frequent towns, especially if there are great lakes and rivers at hand. They are by far the least agile of the British hirundines; their wings and tails are short, and therefore they are not capable of such surprising turns, and quick and glancing evolutions as the swallow. Accordingly, they make use of a placid easy motion, in a middle region of the air, seldom mounting to any great height, and never sweeping long together over the surface of the ground or water. They do not wander far for food; but affect sheltered districts, over some lake, or under some hanging wood, or in some hollow vale, especially in windy weather. They breed the latest of all the swallow kind: in 1772 they had nestlings on to October the 21st, and are never without unfledged young as late as Michaelmas.—As the summer declines, the congregating flocks increase in numbers daily, by the constant accession of the second broods; till at last they swarm in myriads upon myriads round the villages on the Thames, darkening the face of the sky as they frequent the aits of that river, where they roost. They retire, the bulk of them I mean, in vast flocks together about the beginning of October; but have appeared of late years in a considerable flight in this neighbourhood, for one day or two as late as November the 3rd and 6th, after they were supposed to have been gone for more than a fortnight. They therefore withdraw with us the latest of any species. Unless these birds are very short-lived indeed, or unless they do not return to the district where they are bred, they must undergo vast devastations somehow, and somewhere; for the birds that return yearly bear no manner of proportion to the birds that retire.

7. The rufa, or rufous-bellied swallow, is of the same size with the former; and has the upper parts of the body of a glossy black; the under rufous, growing paler towards the vent; the forehead is whitish; and the bill and legs are dusky. These are found at Cayenne, and not unfrequently as far north as New-York. They build in houses, without any mixture of mud; fabricating the nest with moss, dried plants, and short bits of sticks, all united with a sort of gum, so as scarce to be broken, and lined with feathers; suspending it from the beams and rafters, sides of walls, and eaves of houses. It is sometimes a foot and a half in length; and is fixed by one of its sides, the opening being made near the bottom. The female lays four or five eggs; and the young go out as soon as their wings will support them.

8. The riparia, sand-martin, or shore-bird, is 4½ inches in length, with the whole upper parts of the body of a mouse-colour, the throat and under parts white, the bill and legs blackish. It is common about the banks of rivers and sand-pits, where it terribrates a round and regular hole in the sand or earth, which is serpentine, horizontal, and about two feet deep. At the inner end of this burrow does the bird deposit, in a good degree of safety, her rude nest, consisting of fine grasses and feathers, usually goose-feathers, very inartificially laid together. "Though at first (says Mr White) one would be disinclined to believe that this weak bird, with her soft and tender bill and claws, should ever be able to bore the stub- Hirundo. born sand-bank without entirely disabling herself; yet with these feeble instruments have I seen a pair of them make great dispatch; and could remark how much they had scooped that day by the fresh sand which ran down the bank, and was of a different colour from that which lay loose and bleached in the sun. In what space of time these little artists are able to mine and finish these cavities I have never been able to discover: but it would be a matter worthy of observation, where it falls in the way of any naturalist to make his remarks. This I have often taken notice of, that several holes of different depths are left unfinished at the end of summer. To imagine that these beginnings were intentionally made in order to be in the greater forwardness for next spring, is allowing perhaps too much foresight and *rerum prudentia* to a simple bird. May not the cause of these latencies being left unfinished arise from their meeting in those places with traits too harsh, hard, and solid, for their purpose, which they relinquish, and go to a fresh spot that works more freely? Or may they not in other places fall in with a foil as much too loose and mouldering, liable to flounder, and threatening to overwhelm them and their labours? One thing is remarkable—that, after some years, the old holes are forsaken and new ones bored; perhaps because the old habitations grow foul and fetid from long use, or because they may so abound with fleas as to become untenantable. This species of swallow moreover is strangely annoyed with fleas; and we have seen fleas, bed-fleas (*Pulex irritans*), swarming at the mouths of these holes, like bees on the stools of their hives.

The sand-martin arrives much about the same time with the swallow; and lays, as she does, from four to six white eggs. But as this species is *cryptogramme*, carrying on the business of nidification, incubation, and the support of its young in the dark, it would not be easy to ascertain the time of breeding, were it not for the coming forth of the broods, which appear much about the time, or rather somewhat earlier than those of the swallow. The nestlings are supported in common, like those of their congeners, with gnats and other small insects; and sometimes they are fed with *Libellula* (dragon flies) almost as long as themselves. This hirundo is said to lay only once in a year, and to produce its young more early than the rest of its tribe: though from this last circumstance it would seem probable that they breed at least a second time like the house-martin and swallow. It does not always take pains to make an hole for a nest; frequently laying in cavities of quarries, and in hollows of trees, where it is convenient. When they happen to breed near hedges and enclosures, they are often dispossessed of their breeding holes by the house-sparrow, which is on the same account a fell adversary to house-martins. These *hirundines* are no songsters, but rather mute, making only a little harsh noise when a person approaches their nests. They seem not to be of a sociable turn, never with us congregating with their congeners in the autumn. They have a peculiar manner of flying; flitting about with odd jerks and vacillations, not unlike the motions of a butterfly. Doubtless the flight of all *hirundines* is influenced by and adapted to the peculiar sort of insects which furnish their food. Hence (says Mr White) it would be worth inquiry to examine what particular genus of insects affords the principal food of each *Hirundo* respective species of swallow.

9. The montana, or crag-swallow, is about the size of the martin, and in its upper plumage like the sand-martin; the under part of the body is rufous; the tail is scarcely forked; the legs are covered with grey down mixed with brown; the bill and the claws are black. These birds inhabit the rocks and crags about Savoy; arriving there the middle of April, and departing the 15th of August, for the most part; now and then some stragglers remain to the 10th of October. This species is also found in the mountains of Auvergne and Dauphine; and specimens have been received from Gibraltar.

10. The purpurea, or purple swallow, is in length seven inches, and the whole body is of a deep violet, very glossy; the quills and tail are of the same colour, but still deeper, and the last forked; the legs and claws are blackish; and the bill is black. The colour of the female is duller brown, with a slight tinge of violet. This species is found in summer in Carolina and Virginia; coming in May, and retiring at the approach of winter. The common people are very fond of them; and make little conveniences of boards on the outsides of their houses for the birds to build in, like as is done for sparrows in England; being desirous to keep them near, as they are of much use in alarming the poultry of the approach of the hawk and other birds of prey; not only shrieking violently on the appearance of these enemies, but attacking them with all the efforts of our martins in Europe. See fig. 4.

11. The apus, or swift, is a large species, being near eight inches long, with an extent of wing near eighteen inches, though the weight of the bird is only one ounce. Their feet are so small, that the action of walking and rising from the ground is extremely difficult; so that nature has made it full amends, by furnishing it with ample means for an easy and continual flight. It is more on the wing than any other swallow; its flight is more rapid, and that attended with a shrill scream. It rests by clinging against some wall, or other apt body; from whence Klein styles this species *hirundo muraria*. It breeds under the eaves of houses, in steeples, and other lofty buildings; and makes its nest of grasses and feathers. The feet of this species are of a particular structure, all the toes standing forward; the least consists of only one bone; the others of an equal number, viz. two each; in which they differ from those of all other birds; a construction, however, nicely adapted to the purposes in which their feet are employed.

The swift is a summer inhabitant of these kingdoms. It comes the latest, and departs the soonest, of any of the tribe; not always staying to the middle of August, and often not arriving before the beginning of May. A pair of these birds were found adhering by their claws, and in a torpid state, in Feb. 1766, under the roof of Longnor-chapel, Shropshire; on being brought to a fire, they revived, and moved about the room.

The fabulous history of the *manucodia*, or bird of paradise (says Mr Pennant), is, in the history of this species, in great measure verified. It was believed to have no feet; to live upon the celestial dew; to float perpetually on the atmosphere; and to perform all its functions in that element. The swift actually performs what has been in these enlightened times disproved of the former, except the small time it takes in sleeping, and what it devotes to incubation; every other action is done on wing. The materials of its nest it collects either as they are carried about by the winds, or picks them up from the surface in its sweeping flight. Its food is undeniably the insects that fill the air. Its drink is taken in transient sips from the water's surface. Even its amorous rites are performed on high. Few persons who have attended to them in a fine summer's morning, but must have seen them make their aerial courses at a great height, encircling a certain space with an easy steady motion. On a sudden they fall into each others embraces, then drop precipitate with a loud shriek for numbers of yards. This is the critical conjuncture; and to be no more wondered at, than that insects (a familiar instance) should discharge the same duty in the same element.

The swift is a most alert bird, rising very early, and retiring to roost very late; and is on the wing in the height of summer at least fifteen hours. In the longest days it does not withdraw to rest till a quarter before nine in the evening, being the latest of all day birds. Just before they retire, whole groups of them assemble high in the air, and squeak, and shoot about with wonderful rapidity. But this bird is never so much alive as in sultry thundery weather, when it expresses great alacrity, and calls forth all its powers. In hot mornings several, getting together in little parties, dash round the steeples and churches, squeaking as they go in a very clamorous manner: these, by nice observers, are supposed to be males fernading their sitting hens; and not without reason, since they seldom squeak till they come close to the walls or eaves, and since those within utter at the same time a little inward note of complacency. When the hen has sat hard all day, she rushes forth just as it is almost dark, and stretches and relieves her weary limbs, and snatches a scanty meal for a few minutes, and then returns to her duty of incubation. Swifts when wantonly and cruelly shot while they have young, discover a little lump of insects in their mouths, which they pouch and hold under their tongue. In general, as already observed, they feed in a much higher district than the other species; they also range to vast distances; since locomotion is no labour to them, who are endowed with such wonderful powers of wing. At some certain times in the summer, however, they have been observed hawking very low for hours together over pools and streams; and upon inquiring into the object of their pursuit that induced them to descend so much below their usual range, it has been found that they were taking phryganea, ephemerae, and libellulae (cadew-flies, may flies, and dragon-flies), that were just emerged out of their aurelia state. It appeared then no longer a wonder that they should be so willing to stoop for a prey that afforded them such plentiful and succulent nourishment.

Swifts sometimes pursue and strike at hawks that come in their way; but not with that vehemence and fury that swallows express on the same occasion. They are out all day long in wet days, feeding about and disregarding still rain: from whence two things may be gathered; first, that many insects abide high in the air, even in rain; and next, that the feathers of these birds must be well preened to resist so much wet, windy weather, and particularly with heavy showers, they dislike; and on such days withdraw, and are scarce ever seen.—There is a circumstance reflecting the colour of swifts (Mr White remarks), which seems not to be unworthy our attention. When they arrive in the spring, they are all over of a glossy dark foot-colour, except their chins, which are white; but, by being all day long in the sun and air, they become quite weather-beaten and bleached before they depart, and yet they return glossy again in the spring. Now, if they pursue the sun into lower latitudes, as some suppose, in order to enjoy a perpetual summer, why do they not return bleached? Do they not rather perhaps retire to rest for a season, and at that juncture moult and change their feathers, since all other birds are known to moult soon after the season of breeding?

"Swifts (continues our author) are very anomalous in many particulars, dissenting from all their congeners not only in the number of their young, but in breeding once in a summer; whereas all the other British hirundines breed invariably twice. It is past all doubt that swifts can breed but once, since they withdraw in a short time after the flight of their young, and some time before their congeners bring out their second broods. We may here remark, that, as swifts breed but once in a summer, and only two at a time, and the other hirundines twice, the latter, who lay from four to six eggs, increase at an average five times as fast as the former. But in nothing are swifts moreingular than in their early retreat. They retire, as to the main body of them, by the tenth of August, and sometimes a few days sooner: and every straggler invariably withdraws by the twentieth, while their congeners, all of them, stay till the beginning of October; many through all that month, and some occasionally to the beginning of November. This early retreat is mysterious and wonderful, since that time is often the sweetest season in the year. But, what is more extraordinary, they begin to retire still earlier in the most southerly parts of Andalusia, where they can be no ways influenced by any defect of heat; or, as one might suppose, defect of food. Are they regulated in their motions with us by a failure of food, or by a propensity to moulting, or by a disposition to rest after so rapid a life, or by what? This is one of those incidents in natural history that not only baffles our searches, but almost eludes our gnosis!"

Swifts never perch on trees or roofs, and so never congregate with their congeners. They are fearless while haunting their nesting places, and are not to be scared with a gun; and are often beaten down with poles and cudgels as they stoop to go under the eaves. Mr White informs us, that having untiled part of a roof over the nest of a swift, the dam notwithstanding fat in the nest: so strongly was she affected by natural anxiety for her brood, which she supposed to be in danger, that, regardless of her own safety, she would not stir, but lay full-length by them, permitting herself to be taken in hand. Swifts are much infested with those pests to the genus called hippobosca hirundinis; and often wriggle and scratch themselves, in their flight, to get rid of that clinging annoyance. And young ones, over-run with these insects, are sometimes found under their nests, fallen to the ground; the number of vermin rendering their abode insupportable. Swifts are no songsters, and have only one harsh screaming note; yet there are ears to which it is not displeasing, from an agreeable association of ideas, since that note never occurs but in the most lovely summer weather. They never settle on the ground but through accident; neither can they walk, but only crawl; but they have a strong grasp with their feet, by which they cling to walls, as already noticed. Their bodies being flat, they can enter a very narrow crevice; and where they cannot pass on their bellies, they will turn up edgewise.—In London a party of swifts frequents the tower, playing and feeding over the river just below the bridge; others haunt some of the churches of the borough next the fields; but do not venture, like the house-martin, into the close crowded part of the town. The Swedes have bestowed a very pertinent name on this swallow, calling it ring fowla, from the perpetual rings or circles that it takes round the scene of its nidification.—As these birds are apt to catch at every thing on the wing, many have taken them by a bait of a cockchafer tied to a thread, which they have swallowed as freely as a fish theirs. In the Isle of Zant, the boys are said to get on an elevated place, and merely with a hook baited with a feather, have caught five or six dozen of them in a day. Besides our island, the swift is known to inhabit the whole of the European continent; and has also been noticed at the Cape of Good Hope, and Carolina in North America. Hence, most likely, a general inhabitant of both the old and new continents.

12. The ambrofiaca, or ambergris swallow, is about the size of a wren, with grey plumage and a very forked tail; the bill is blackish, and the legs are brown. It inhabits Senegal, and is said to smell very strong of ambergris.

13. The pelagia, or aculeated swallow, is somewhat less than our chimney-swallow: its plumage is brown, but at the throat whitish, and all the tail-feathers are terminated by a barb pointed shaft. It inhabits Carolina and Virginia in the summer time, and builds in chimneys. See fig. 3.

14. The melba, or white-bellied swift, is in length 8½ inches, and weighs two ounces five drams: the bill is half an inch, somewhat bent, and black: the upper parts of the body are of a grey brown; the wings and tail deepset, with a gloss of red and green in some lights: the throat, breast, and belly, are white; on the neck is a collar of grey brown, mixed with blackish: the sides are dusky, and white mixed; lower part of the belly, and under tail-coverts, the same as the back: the legs are flesh-coloured, and covered with feathers on the fore part and inside: all the toes are placed forward, as in our swift. This bird inhabits the mountainous parts of Spain; building in the holes of rocks. It is found also on the borders of the Rhone, in Savoy, the isle of Malta, Alps of Switzerland, and rock of Gibraltar. It comes into Savoy the beginning of April, and frequents the ponds and marshes for 15 or 20 days; after which it retires to the mountainous parts to breed. It flies higher than our swift; but feeds on the same food, and its flesh is accounted a delicate morsel. This species is not numerous. Scopoli says it builds on the summit of the mountains of Tyrol.

15. The cayennensis, or white-coloured swallow, is about the size of the martin: the head and bill are black; the chin and throat white, passing from the last in a narrow collar round the neck: between the bill and eye is a streak of white, which forks off into two; one passing a little above and the other a little way beneath the eye: the rest of the plumage is black, with a gloss of violet; but the greater coverts, nearest the body, are brown, edged with white: the quills and tail are black; the last forked: the legs are black; and all the four toes placed before as in our swift, and covered with feathers to the claws.—This bird makes its nest in the houses at Cayenne. It is of a large size, in shape of a truncated cone; five inches one way by three the other, and nine inches in length. It is composed of the down of dogs-bane, well woven together; the cavity divided obliquely about the middle, lengthways, by a partition, which spreads itself over that part of the nest where the eggs lie, which is pretty near the base: a small parcel of the same soft down, forming a kind of plug, is placed over the top, serving to keep the young brood from the impression of the air; from which we may suppose them to be very tender.

16. The erythrocephala, or red-headed swallow, has a red head, with a short flat dusky bill: the back is dusky, the feathers edged with white: the under parts of the body are white, the tail coverts pale brown: the wings are both dusky; as is also the tail, which is a little forked. It inhabits India; and is only the size of a small humming-bird.

17. The nigra, or black swallow, measures near six inches in length: the colour of the bird is wholly black, and the tail is forked. It inhabits St Domingo and Cayenne; but is not numerous. It is often seen to perch on dead trees; and only inhabits dry savannas inland. It scoops out a hole in the earth, half a foot in length, the mouth of it very small, so as just to permit entrance: in this cavity it constructs the nest and rears the young.

18. The dominicensis, or St Domingo swallow, is 7 inches in length, and wholly black, with the gloss of polished steel, except the belly and undertail coverts, which are white: the tail is very little forked: the legs, bill, and claws are brown. It inhabits St Domingo, and other of the West India islands, in May, June, and July; and is said to imitate a lark in its song.

To this article we may not improperly subjoin the following paper (from the Gentleman's Magazine) on the utility of encouraging the breed of swallows, swifts, and martins. "The advantages that accrue to man, from the docility with which the domesticated animals accommodate themselves to his uses, are obvious. But there are others, who attend on him of their own accord, whose beneficial exertions are little known or observed. Among these I shall at present only notice the family of swallows (hirundines); of the four kinds of which bird found in our island three attach themselves to his dwelling, as if peculiarly solicitous for his welfare. This connection seems to reciprocate, that where men do not inhabit, few swallows can find proper conveniences for their summer-residences; and as their food consists wholly of insects, the most diligent inquirer hath not been able to discover that they injure in the slightest degree the productions of the field or garden; a circumstance nearly singular." Hirundo, singular to these birds. The charge which Virgil, those who have turned their minds to inquiries of this Hirundo, copying the Grecian writers, brings against them, of killing bees, is in this country groundless, and I apprehend it to be so in every other:

"Morsus— Meropeaque aliaque volucres, Et manibus Proceae pectus ignatae cruentis; Omnia ram late vallant, inpactae volantes Ore ferunt, dulcem nidis immitibus efcam."

George, l. 4. v. 23.

For the mouths of the swallow tribe are by no means adapted to catch stinging insects with impunity. The birds who prey on bees have a long extended bill constructed for that purpose, very different from that of the swallow.

"By the myriads of insects which every single brood of swallows destroys in the course of a summer, they defend us in a great measure from the personal and domestic annoyance of flies and gnats; and, what is of infinitely more consequence, they keep down the numbers of our minute enemies, who, either in the grub or winged state, would otherwise render the labours of the husbandman fruitless. Since then swallows are guardians of our corn, they should everywhere be protected by the same popular veneration which in Egypt defends the Ibis and the stork in Holland. We more frequently hear of unproductive harvests on the Continent than in this country; and it is well known that swallows are caught and sold as food in the markets of Spain, France, and Italy. When this practice has been very general and successful, I have little doubt that it hath at times contributed to the scarcity of corn. In England we are not driven to such resources to furnish our tables. But what apology can be made for those, and many there are, whose education and rank should have taught them more innocent amusements, who wantonly murder swallows, under the idle pretence of improving their skill in shooting game? Setting aside the cruelty of starving whole nests of young by killing the dam; they who follow this barbarous diversion would do well to reflect, that by every swallow they kill, they afflict blasts, mildews, and vermin, in caulking a scarcity of bread. Every lord of a manor should restrain his game-keeper from this execrable practice; nor should he permit any person to sport on his lands who does not refrain from it. For my part, I am not ashamed to own that I have tempted martins to build around my house, by fixing escarpment shells, in places convenient for their pendant beds and procreant cradles; and have been pleased to observe with what caution the little architect raised a buttress under each shell before he ventured to form his nest on it.

"What has induced me to send you these strictures at this time, are the accounts of the ravages committed on the cultivation of corn in the United States of North America, by an insect called the Hessian-Fly. (See the article Hessian-Fly.) How far there is danger of this defolating scourge being imported into this country by the admission of American wheat, I must leave to able entomologists to decide. But that this destructive insect should, as hath lately been asserted, totally disappear in one season, after having for a number of years successively laid waste wide extended districts, is a phenomenon hardly to be assented to by

"Might I not here enlarge on the importance of Hispania's researches into the works of the creation, when we see statesmen, as in the present instance, making solemn applications to those who are studious of nature, requesting their direction how to avoid the calamity apprehended from a fly? And may we not then add, that the minutest observations of this kind are only deemed trivial by the indolent and uninformed?

"I recollect but a single complaint against the swallow, and that is made by Anacreon, Od. i. 12; who bitterly reproaches this bird for disturbing him by its twittering while he was dozing away the intoxication of the preceding night. Yet, had the poet been temperate, like Milton, he would with pleasure have arisen from his bed at the charm of earliest birds.

"With what joy the Grecians welcomed the return of the swallow, appears by the very ancient carol preserved by Athenæus; of which the following is a translation:

The swallow! the swallow! she does with her bring Soft scents and all the delights of the spring: The swallow! the swallow! we're sure we are right, For her back is all black, and her belly all white. From your flores, ye good housewives, produce, if you please, Lumps of figs, jugs of wine, and some wheat and some cheese. With some hot eggs the swallow will be content. Must we go then, or shall we have anything sent? We shall not allow you to do as you choose, To give or give not, to comply or refuse; But will cease to take from its hinges the door, Or bear off the great dam, if she sits on the floor; She is little and light, we can manage her sure. Open, open the door to the swallow—for we Are playful young children, not men—you may see.