Migration of the Sxmfts m 1 8 3 ] . 145 



in fancying facts, instead of proving them by observation," I 

 could not help thinking that this remark of his would prove 

 a formidable weapon in the hand of any body who would 

 wish to make a home thrust at the Professor of Natural His- 

 tory in King's College in the City of London. 



Charles Waterton. 

 Walton Hall^ Jan. 7. 1832. 



Art. VI. Dates and Remarks relative to the Migration of the 

 Swifts in the Year 1831. By the Rev. W. T. Bree, M.A. 



Sir, 



Happening to be under the necessity of making a journey 

 last summer from this place, through London, to the Kentish 

 coast, about the time at which the swifts take their departure, 

 I had a favourable opportunity of noticing the appearance or 

 non-appearance of these birds in the different parts of the 

 country through which I passed. A plain statement of the 

 result of my observations may, perhaps, prove acceptable to 

 such of your readers as, like myself, take an interest in watch" 

 ing the migration of our jy^irundines. The swifts appeared to 

 have taken their departure early from this part of the country 

 ( Allesley, Warwickshire). I could only observe a single one 

 here on the 31st of July : none had been seen by me for some 

 days previous. I left home on the 1st of August; and, as I 

 journeyed south-eastward, could perceive no swifts all the way 

 till I came to Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire (a distance 

 of forty-one miles), where two appeared; and two more the 

 same day, at Brickhill, one stage nearer to London. Many 

 were to be seen at Crayford and Dartford in Kent, and near 

 Gravesend, on the 4th of August ; and in the evening of that 

 day, I observed a very large assemblage of them sporting 

 high in air, and uttering their " joyous scream " over the pre- 

 cincts of the latter town ; they were to be heard again at the 

 same place early in the morning of the 5th of August ; and 

 the same day, a few more appeared in one or two places be- 

 tween Gravesend and Dover. At Dover I could observe none 

 till the 7th of August, when some five or six or more in a 

 pack were to be seen and heard as they dashed round the 

 ancient towers of Dover Castle, in the morning ; and a few 

 more in the evening, over the town and basin. I then lost 

 sight of them entirely until the 14th of August; on the even- 

 ing of which day, three, or perhaps more, appeared again 



Vol. V. — No. 24. l 



