On the thirtieth of last June I untiled the eaves of an house where
many pairs build, and found in each nest only two squab naked
pulli: on the eighth of July I repeated the same inquiry, and found
they had made very little progress towards a fledged state, but were
still naked and helpless. From whence we may conclude that birds
whose way of life keeps them perpetually on the wing would not be
able to quit their nest till the end of the month. Swallows and
martins, that have numerous families, are continually feeding them
every two or three minutes; while swifts, that have but two young
to maintain, are much at their leisure, and do not attend on their
nests for hours together.
Sometimes they 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.
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