In Sweden fhe builds in barns, and is called ladu fwala, the barn-
fwallow. Befides, in the warmer parts of Europe there are no chim-
nies to houfes, except they are Englijh-built: in thefe countries
fhe conftru&s her neft in porches, and gate-ways, and galleries,
and open halls.
Here and there a bird may affeQ: fome odd, peculiar place; as
we have known a fwallow build down the (haft of an old well,
through which chalk had been formerly drawn up for the purpofe
of manure: but in general with us this hirundo breeds in chimnies;
■ ind loves to haunt thofe flacks where there is a conftant fire, no
doubt for the fake of warmth. Not that it can fubfift in the
immediate lhaft where there is a fire; but prefers one adjoining to
that of the kitchen, and difregards the perpetual fmoke of that
funnel, as I have-often obferved with fome degree of wonder.
Five or fix or more feet down the chimney does this little bird
begin to form her neft about the middle of May, which confifts,
like that of the houfe-martin, of a cruft or fhell compofed of dirt
or mud, mixed with fhort pieces of ftraw to render it tough and
permanent; with this difference, that whereas the fhell of the
martin is nearly hemifpheric, that of the fwallow is open at the top,
and like half a deep difh : this neft is lined with fine graffes, and
feathers which are often collated as they float in the air.
Wonderful is the addrefs which this adroit bird {hews all day
long in afcending and defcending with fecurity through fo narrow
a pafs. When hovering over the mouth of the funnel, the vibrations
of her wings aéting on the confined air occafiön a rumbling
like thunder. It is not improbable that the dam fubmits to this
inconvenient fituation fo low in the fhaft, in order to fecure her
broods from rapacious birds, and particularly from owls, which
frequently
*
O F SETL B O R N E . 169
frequently fall down chimnies, perhaps in attempting to get at
thefe neftlings.
The fwallow lays from four to fix white eggs, dotted with red
fpecks; and brings out her firft brood about the laft week in June,
or the firft week in July- The progreffive method by which the
young are introduced into life is very amufing : firft, they emerge
from the fhaft with difficulty enough, and often fall down into the
rooms below: for a day or fo they are fed on the chimney-top,
and then are conducted to the dead leaflefs bough of fome tree,
where, fitting in a row, they are attended with great affiduity, and
may then be called perchers. In a day or two more they become
flyers, but are ftill 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 fignal given, the dam
and the neftling advance, riling towards each other, and meeting
at an angle ; the young one all the while uttering fuch a little
-quick note of gratitude and complacency, that a perfon muft have
paid very little regard to the wonders of Nature that has not often
remarked this feat.
The dam betakes herfelf immediately to the bufinefs of a fecond
brood- as foon as lhe is difengaged from her firft; which at once
aflpciates with the firft broods of houfe-martins; and with them congregates,
cluftering on funny roofs, towers, and trees. This
hirundo brings out her fecond brood towards the middle and end
,of 4.ug‘lß•
All the -fummer long is the fwallow a mo'ft inftruftive pattern -of
unwearied induftry and affeftion; for, from morning to nighr,
while there is a family to be fupported, fhe fpends the whole day
in fkimming clofe to the ground, and exerting the moft fudden
turns ’ and quick evolutions. Avenues, and long walks under
Z hedges,