I82 



passed, when they returned with four other boys the}- liad 

 taken on as assistants, but with only one Dove as a result 

 of their prolonged hunting. E. Hopkinson. 



THE MIGRATION OF THE SWALLOW AND 

 HOUSE MARTIN. 



Some of these insectivorous summer migrants reach 

 the British Isles as early in the year as April, others come 

 in May. Adult males lead, then the females, the young of 

 the preceding season following. It is a most interesting 

 fact tliat the birds arriving first are the last to depart, and 

 the latest arrivals generally are the first, along with the 

 current season's young, to take their departure, accom- 

 panied and presumably guided by those prevented from 

 breeding, or which have lost their broods. The object of 

 the spring migration, when carefully thought out, seems 

 to be reproduction. When this duty has been performed 

 and moulting is over, which is accomplished by the latter 

 end of August or early in September, the birds are again, 

 most of them, eager to make the return journey, which 

 is undertaken in the months of vSeptember and October. 

 Then the order of arrival is reversed, for on the return 

 journey the youngest birds (pioneered as aforesaid) lead 

 the way — which to a great extent accounts for so many 

 being lost. The adult males go next— then the females, 

 their moult being delayed by maternal duties. All 

 heading for the South of England, where some cross 

 over to France by Dover and Calais, older birds departing 

 from our south shores, termed the " South Hams," 

 cross the English channel, all companies journeying 

 through France, but by slightly different routes, and 

 cross the Mediterranean by way of the Island of Corsica 

 and Sardinia to Tunis, North Africa, thence South to 

 Algeria and Tripoli, their winter home. Whilst those 

 eaving the extreme West of England and Ireland embark 

 roni Falmouth and the Land's End for Brest, thence 

 through France, by way of Andorra, coasting to Barce- 

 ona in Spain, whence the journey is continued south, 

 probably resting a little on the Balearic Islands in the 



