Swallows at the Front.



75



Pyromelana flammiceps, Crimson-crowned Weaver, 4 years, 12 £.

Heteryphantes melanogaster, Johnston’s Black Weaver, 4 years.

15 cJ, 1 ? ; 8 eggs, 2 young.


Pyromelana nigriventris, Black-vented Weaver, 4 years, 2 £.

Amadina erythrocephala, Red-headed Finch, 4 years, 1 8, 1 $ ; 8

eggs, 4 young.


— fasciata, Ribbon-finch, 4 years, 6 <^, 6 $ .


Tceniopyga castanotis, Zebra-finch, 4 years, 4 8\4 ? ; 18 eggs, 8

young.


Monsieur Delacour had 1345 birds, representing 344 species,

up to June, 1916.


M. Delacour wrote (October, 1916) that Field Marshal

Sir Douglas Haig and several French generals had lately been to

see his collection of birds, and that he had received unwelcome

visitors in the shape of German shells.



SWALLOWS AT THE FRONT.


[By kind permission of the Editor of ‘ Country Life.’]


At half-past seven on Easter Sunday the air-scout on the look

out for hostile aircraft called me out to see the first Swallow. The

jolly little beggar was hawking about over the guns catching insects

in the most natural manner in the world. Although every now and

then a gun boomed out its deadly message, the Swallow did not

appear at all alarmed by the noise. High overhead our aeroplanes

were flying, looking like somewhat larger birds against the perfectly

blue sky. Every now and then the shots from the German anti¬

aircraft guns burst in little clouds of white smoke until the aeroplanes

appeared at times surrounded by small clouds or balls of fluffy

down.


Later in the day a service was held within a hundred yards

of our position, and the Swallows skimmed backwards and forwards

apparently unconcerned with the strange scene, and intent on

gathering insects. I think, perhaps, some of us felt that the

Swallows were messages from the dear homeland, and watched them

wheeling and darting overhead while the chaplain intoned the



