NOTES ON BRITISH SWALLOWS. 133 



arrive about the same time, generally a few days earlier, but in smaller numberg; 

 the latter, indeed, mostly in pairs, though sometimes we have counted ten in 

 a troop. The former is our favourite amongst Swallows, and however much 

 tastes may diflFer, we think it the most elegant. Perhaps our partiality may 

 arise from the close attention we gave to its habits, and from our having 

 kept tame individuals, for a time, in confinement. The nest is found in almost 

 every situation, for though its common name would lead us to suppose it 

 frequented chimneys, such a habit is not characteristic of the bird; yet it 

 is the only species which, so far as we know, inhabits chimneys. In a few 

 instances we have seen a pair issuing from a red chimney-can, where their 

 nest must have been built, but it is proper to mention that the chimneys 

 were not in use. They do not, however, always choose a safe place, for they 

 will sometimes mistake a sootless aperture for one in disuse, and involve 

 themselves in all the horrors of a smoky house. The most curious case that 

 we can quote occurred within our own observation, and was repeated annually 

 for a period of four or five years. Three pairs of Swallows, (H. rustica,) 

 built their nests in the interior of the smoke-funnel of a kiln for drying oats, 

 and had, when we first discovered them, each a brood of young ones. The 

 kiln had been once used when these birds were sitting on eggs, without causing 

 them to forsake their nests; but one morning on going out of doors, there 

 was a sad spectacle awaiting us. The miller was at his work, drying oats, 

 and the parent Swallows were fluttering and screaming in great distress. . The 

 smoke and heat did not deter them from venturing inside, and we could not 

 at first divine their object in exposing their lives to jeopardy. It was soon 

 explained, however, th'e young were nearly fledged, and by and by made their 

 exit, but in what manner we could not discover, as we had for a short time 

 left the spot. Towards evening, when the fire was put out, and the tenants 

 of the funnel quiet, we dispatched a boy to the roof of the building, and he 

 reported that there were three nests, all containing young. 



The Chimney Swallow occasionally remains with us much later than its 

 congeners. In 1847, we saw several specimens on the 24th. of November, 

 and a solitary individual on December loth., flying close to the sand, on the 

 lee-side of the high wall by the sea- shore. It was observed again on the 

 following day, hawking over the same spot, but was apparently languid in 

 its flight. The weather at that time was mild, but had been cold and bois- 

 terous for some days towards the end of the previous month. 



We are disposed to look upon the Bank Swallow, {H. riparia,) as a 

 solitary bird; for, although in some cases, where an extensive abrupt cliff" may 

 afford room for a great number, and find tenants too, yet the species is 

 more frequently, we think, found breeding in a colony of, at most, four or 

 five pairs. During our own direct observations we concluded that a solitary 

 couple was oftenest seen, but we should hardly venture to publish that opinion 

 against so much contrary testimony. In the county of East Lothian we have 

 never seen a spot where more than thirty or forty were established together 



