S W A L L O W .
HIRUNDO RUSTICA.
THE Swallow is without doubt ono of our most familiar British birds, being well known in every county
from north to south. I have, not observed it in the Outer Hebrides, though I am of opinion stragglers must
occasionally make their appearance iu those barren islands, as 1 have seen a bird or two 11 y past when half
across the Minch, in the beginning of May.
I n many eases, I believe, the early Swallows s 1 frequently reported are simply Sand-Martins, of which hut
an imperfect view has been obtained. The Greenfinch, however, as I am well aware, has misled several
observers who were not thoroughly acquainted with the singular llight of the old male at that season.
This species is usually supposed to arrive early in April; hut although numbers are observed shortly
after that date, these birds continue crossing in small parties till the end of May. While noting the
arrival of birds of passage during several years, I remarked large quantities making their way to land on
various dates, May 17th and again the 21st, 22nd, and 25th being days on which numerous arrivals
were recorded,
I have never seen Swallows crossing the Channel in large compact Hocks: scores, or possibly oven
hundreds, might he in sight at the same time; hut they would he flying in small scattered parties.
Occasionally there might he a break in the stream of travellers, when only a single bird or two would fly
quietly past; and again, after an interval of perhaps an hour or more, fresh comers would appear in view.
Though I have watched Swallows while making the passage of the Channel on many occasions, 1 do not
remember having seen largo numbers on wing after midday. Single birds nud small parlies may continue
crossing till late in the afternoon ; but the main bodies apparently make an early start, shortly after daybreak.
Some vears hack an unfortunate Swallow was transfixed on the point of the arrow forming the vane to the
signal-pole on the centre pier at Shoreham Harbour, The bird, I conclude, must have been making its
way to the shore during the night, and was probably attracted by the hurbourdight, it hicb stands at hut a
short distance inland from the signnl-pole.
All my observations concerning the arrival of the Swallow were made in the English Channel, From
the numbers constantly seen during favourable weather crossing straight from the French coast to our
southern shores, 1 imagine that the short sea-passage is the favourite route, the remainder of the journey
to the northern counties being probably made over laud. It is, however, clear that a few, at all events, must
pass over sonic portions of the North Sea, as in the spring of 1S73 I received the wings of several Swallows
that had struck against the light-ships oil' the east coast.
I n the last week of April 1S71 1 watched for some time an immense concourse of Swallows collected
together by the side of a pool of brackish water, just over the sea-beach near Shoreham. The wind was
blowing in strong gusts from the west, with drifting rain; and the whole of the birds were sitting
facing the gale. Hundreds were closely packed on the ground at the water's edge; hut the greater