SWALLOW. 345 



numbers about pools or rivers, feeding on the swarms of 

 insects there generated, and roosting by night in the trees, 

 reeds and rushes that fringe the banks, while their parents 

 stay about their home and busy themselves with the cares 

 of a second family. When the second broods are hatched 

 and flown they are led to the parts frequented by their 

 predecessors, who by that time are strong on the wing, and 

 at the end of August or beginning of September, quit this 

 country, leaving behind their parents and younger brethren 

 to follow when the latter are fit, which commonly happens 

 about a month later. Yet a good many still tarry, and not 

 a year passes but a few Swallows may be seen here and there 

 throughout November, while the records of the appearance 

 in December, even to the 23rd and 24th of that month of 

 birds, too weak, it would seem, to perform their journey, are 

 far too numerous to be here particularized.* But it very 

 rarely happens that any occur in Britain during the two 

 months that follow. Yet Mr. Job Johnson says (Zool. 

 p. 1G19) that he saw three near Wakefield, January 18th, 

 1837, and Thomas Forster (Observ. &c. p. 456) that one 

 appeared at Clapton, January 29th, 1809. Mr. Parke 

 recorded (Zool. p. 7938) one near Halifax, February 4th, 

 1862. Graves states (Nat. Pocket-Book, p. 63) that he saw 

 one February 7th, 1817. Mr. Gurney, junior, saw at a 

 bird-stuffer's one said to have been taken at Southampton, 

 February 26th, 1871, and Messrs. Matthews report (Zool. 

 p. 2534) three occurring February 28th and 29th, 1846, in 

 Oxfordshire. If there be no error in any of these observa- 

 tions, only one of which was confirmed by capture, the birds 

 seen had possibly wintered in this country, for few spring- 

 arrivals arc recorded earlier than the third week of March. 



The migrations of the Swallow are in a direction nearly 

 due north and south, and their course has been satisfactorily 

 traced across the Mediterranean to and from Africa. A few 



* Anions others, the case mentioned by White in his twenty-third letter to 

 rennant ; but, from the Editor's experience, even " a very respectable gentle- 

 man " may be deceived in a matter of this kind, and too much trust should not 

 be placed in the observation of White's informant. 



