586 HIRUNUO URBICA, 



storm against the window-glass. A minute elapsed, when 

 forth rushed the parents, and darted wildly about, shrieking 

 their alarm notes, and again and again wheeled up to their 

 nest, until at last they drifted away in the storm. I watched 

 them till they disappeared about half-past 9 ©"'clock. During 

 all this time they only twice summoned up courage to look into 

 the nest. Next morning I was rejoiced to see them attending 

 assiduously to the young ones. Toward night, however, they 

 disappeared, and as they never returned, their progeny perished 

 of hunger. These two instances do not redound to the honour 

 of the species. 



" Besides the places above-mentioned, in which they fix their 

 nests, I have seen them in arches, once against a rafter, im- 

 mediately under the ridge hole of a shed, on another occasion, 

 in the south-east angle of the wall of a house, at the distance 

 of eighteen feet from the ground, and about six or eight feet 

 from the eaves. Although quite exposed, it bore with im- 

 punity all the storms by which it was assailed, and its owners 

 raised two broods in it. I am credibly informed that they 

 breed about the rocks near Tantallon Castle, opposite the Bass 

 Rock. I have never seen its nest placed so low that you could 

 reach it when standing. The favourite haunts of this species 

 are towns and villages, near large streams and lakes. Win- 

 dows appear to be their favourite places for building. It is 

 not uncommon to see a nest in each corner. I have fi'equently 

 seen them where their owners were obliged to pass round a 

 large tree before reaching them. In such a situation as the 

 corner of a window, it presents the appearance of the quarter 

 of a rude globe, in most cases, if not always, somewhat pro- 

 duced about the entrance, which is always on the side next 

 the window. It is usually finished in twelve or fourteen days. 

 When built in a sheltered situation, it will last for years, and 

 is occupied every season probably by the same pair. It is 

 sometimes lined with moss and wool, in other instances with 

 soft straw and feathers, and frequently with a mixture of the 

 four kinds. The straw I have seen them collecting from the 

 tops of the out-houses. From three to five white eggs are de- 

 posited, and in the intervals the parents pursue the gnats in 



