183 



THE HOUSE SWALLOW, {HIBUNDO RUSTICA.) 



TO THE EDITOR OP "tHE NATURALIST." 



Facts in Natural History are of so much more value than theories, 

 that I communicate the following statement founded on my own personal 

 observation; and as a curious contrast is presented in the two instances, I 

 shall leave them to the reflection of your numerous readers. 



A House Swallow, or Chimney Swallow, built last year, in May, over 

 the entrance inside the porch of my house; when she had about half- 

 finished her nest she stopped from working at it for three days; I suppose to 

 give such foundation time to be dry, and get firmness to support the super- 

 structure, for she then re-commenced and finished her nest; she laid, and 

 accomplished her sitting, notwithstanding the continued disturbance of the 

 opening and shutting of the door, at which she always flew ofi", and at 

 night, when it was dark outside, and light inside the entrance hall, she 

 flew into the house, and I caught her and put her near the nest, but I 

 had little hope that she would succeed in hatching, which, however, she 

 did, and reared her young ones, which fled from the nest on July 19th. 



On the 1st. of August, to my surprise, I found (I have no doubt) the 

 same pair of Swallows building a fresh nest close by the former one, under 

 the same diflSculties, with the same disturbance, and likewise with the same 

 success; for in my note-book, under the date of September 11th., I write, 

 "The Swallow has braved all difficulties, hatched and reared her second 

 brood, which took flight from the nest to-day," This somewhat confirmed 

 me in a notion I entertained that few or no birds re-occupy an old nest; 

 but mark how dangerous it is to generalize, as the following contrast will 

 prove. This spring, 1856, a Thrush built her nest in a laurel bush, close 

 to my hall door; she hatched, and the young ones left the nest on the 

 9th. of May, and she is now, June 2nd., sitting again on the same nest; 

 a thing that never came under my observation before, although I have 

 been an observer of birds for forty years, except in the instance of Star- 

 lings, and also domestic Pigeons, who usually have two nests, which they 

 alternately make use of, the old bird often sitting on fresh eggs before 

 the first brood has flown. Semble, as we lawyers say, do not many of 

 our birds have successive broods of young ones even when not interfered 

 with. Can you or your correspondents enumerate instances coming under 

 safe observation, I say safe, for none but the experienced can have an idea 

 how easy it is to be misled in matters of this kind.* 



E. G. Temple. 



The Lache, Chester^ June 2nd., 1856. 



* Many birds repair and add to their old nests from year to year. I have also known a 

 Greenfinch build on an old nest of the Spotted Flycatcher. — F. 0. Morris. 



