CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 1 53 



Concerning- the speed of the Swallow, the follow- 

 ing extract from Mr. Pycraft's "Story of Bird Life" 

 may be of some interest: "We have records, however, 

 of the feats of Homing Pigeons and of Swallows. 

 Thus Pliny tells of a certain Roman Knight who 

 wished to convey to his friends at Volterra, in 

 Tuscany, the results of the Chariot Races in Rome, 

 and for this purpose took Swallows with him. A 

 Swallow sent from Roubaix to Paris^i6o miles — 

 covered the distance in ninety minutes. If this is 

 true, we get a speed of io6 miles per hour." 



According to some authorities, the first brood of 

 youngsters leave for southern quarters before their 

 parents do with the second brood ; the final 

 departure of this species takes place in the latter 

 end of September or beginning of October ; about a 

 fortnight or so before they actually do disappear the 

 old and young birds collect themselves into large 

 flocks ; it is then interesting to watch them flying 

 high in the air together, or to see them when settled 

 in swarms on telegraph wires or roofs near water. 



The Swallow "nests in Scandinavia, but not quite 

 as far as the Arctic circle in Russia ; eastward its 

 breeding-range extends over Europe, Asia, north, 

 as a rule, of the great mountain ranges, and 

 Northern Africa ; while during winter it is found 

 throughout the Indian region as far as Burmah and 

 Malayan Peninsula, and all over Africa" (H.S.). 



Some of the specimens were shot near the Cater- 

 ham Valley, and others in Wales. 



