BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT. 295 
Muscicapa atricapilla. Pizp FLlycaTcHER. 
Cheshire: “On April 30th, 1867, I saw a rather shy, restless 
bird of this species in a wood at Burton.” (Br. p. 5.) One from 
Hoole, Chester [W.T.] 
Flintshire : “ One killed in the grounds, Talacre, 1863, early 
spring.” [A. Dick, in diary A.O.W.] 
Denbighshire: ‘“‘A pair nested at Hendre House in 1843-4 
(Annals and Mag., Nat. History, 1845.) The fact of its nesting 
in this county was also recorded in ‘Zhe Field’ in 1871.” 
(Zoologist, Nov., 1893, p- 421-) 
This species must be very local even in Denbighshire. Mr. 
Ruppy mentions Chirk and Llangollen as localities, and says it 
nests in hollow trees. Mr. A. T. JeBB-(Ellesmere), writes that 
his father found a nest in Chirk Castle Park. Mr. W. J. Kerr, 
of Maesmor, says it ‘‘ breeds regularly in the district.” In the 
Merionethshire slip it is frequent [T.R.] Mr. Wynw has one 
in the Rag Collection shot in 1883. Mr. Srivens has one shot 
at Coed Coch. Mr. A. O. WaLker has never observed it at 
Colwyn Bay. 
** Hirundo rustica. Swa.Low. 
«« An abundant summer visitor” to Wirral (Br. p. 9) and all 
the district. 
** Chelidon urbica. Martin. 
«An abundant summer visitor” to Wirral (Br. p. 9), and the 
district generally. A few years ago it appeared to become far 
less numerous at Chester, but latterly has re-established itself. 
Large numbers build their nests on the outside of the railway 
bridge crossing the canal at Moston, and known as the ‘‘ Eleven 
Arches,” in a situation, I imagine, exactly similar to that 
described by Mr. Szesoum in the Peak district (Hisfory of 
British Birds, vol. ii., p. 181.) They obtain their mud from the 
canal towing path. 
Mr. R. Newsreap has sent me the following interesting 
note :—‘* At Ince quite thirty pairs build their nests on rafters in 
the inferior of a barn, and have done so for a number of years. 
The barn has a large opening without doors on the north side. 
Such a situation is quite the home of the Swallow, but I never 
heard of the Martin nesting in the interior of a building.” 
The difference in habits of the two birds in this respect may 
be connected with the fact that the Swallow, where there are no 
buildings, sometimes breeds in caves, and presumably did so 
before the existence of masonry. The Martin in like circum- 
stances builds in the face of rocks, but as far as I know, not in 
caves. The record of such a thing would be interesting in the 
light of Mr. Newsreap’s observation. (Consult articles on 
Swallow and Martin in ‘‘ YARRELL,” Ed. 4, vol. ii, pp. 340 and 
349 ; and ‘‘SEEBOHM,”’ vol. ii., pp. 171 and 178.) 
