135 



THE HOUSE-MARTIN. 



Chelidon urhica (L.). 



The first aiTival of this species was recorded in Hampshire 

 on the 30th of March, and on the 1st of April two House- 

 Martins were noted in Cornwall, one in Somerset and ten or 

 twelve '■ on passage " in the Isle of Man. 



During the first week of the month straoolers were 

 reported in Dorset, Surrey, Herts, Radnor, Warwick and 

 Lancashire. On the 13th of April "many," apparently fresh 

 arrivals, were recorded in Devonshire, but passed on imme- 

 diately. On the same date " first arrivals'' were noted from 

 Essex, Suffolk and Yorkshire. On the 14th there was an 

 increase in Cornwall, Somerset and Hants, and a few indi- 

 viduals were noted in Surrey and Worcester. On the 15th 

 they were noted at the Devon liohts, and during the next few 

 days were observed on passage in Shropshire, Staffordshire, 

 Lancashire and the Isle of Man. 



The first records from the east were a few seen in Kent on 

 the 19th and in Cambridge on the 22nd, while on the 23i d 

 and 2-ith several were noted at St. Catherine's light in the 

 Isle of Wight ; on the latter date there was an increase 

 in Essex and the first birds were recorded in Norfolk. On 

 the 26th this species was noted at the Norfolk lights with an 

 increase in Norfolk on the following day. From April the 

 29th to May the 5th numbers coming from the south-east and 

 " going inland ■" were recorded from Yorkshire, and on the 

 former date numbers were noted in Shropshire. On the 6th 

 there seems to have been a great increase in Yorkshire. 



Between the -Ith and the 7th of May a large immigration 

 took place along the whole of the south coast, but chiefly 

 on the western half, and these birds seem to have spread 



