HIRUNDINIDjE. 91 



seven years ago many annually had their nests in an 

 old sand-pit near Salthill, but they have now for- 

 saken this locality. 



The Sand-martin, which is the smallest of the Hwim- 

 dines, is not so numerous as the Swallow or common 

 Martin in the neighbourhood of Windsor. A few 

 stragglers have been observed as early as the end 

 of March, and they leave us in August. In 1856 an 

 immense quantity of these birds were seen in the Eton 

 College playing-fields. 



In August 1867, an albino specimen of the Sand- 

 martin was shot on the river near Marlow, by Mr. F. 

 Wheeler. 



Common Swift {Cypselus apus). This long- 

 winged, strong-flying bird is a regular visitor to the 

 two counties in summer, generally arriving at a locality 

 on the banks of the Thames known to Etonians as 

 ' Lower Hope,' about the 3rd of May ; though in 

 some seasons a few Swifts are observed before the 

 end of April. This species leaves England for 

 Africa towards the end of August, very few being 

 seen here in September. 



The Swift is numerous in the vicinity of Windsor 

 itself, but has sadly decreased in numbers in many 

 places throughout the two counties where it used to 

 be common. A few pairs remain to breed every year, 

 usually choosing an old and lofty church-tower or 

 barn as a site for their nests. The local name for 

 this bird is Screech or S/uiek Martin. The skeleton 



