SWALLOW. 7g 
Mr. Gillett of Stockport informs us that two examples 
have passed through his hands—one from Vernon Park, 
Stockport, and the other from Adswood. A male in 
the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, was obtained at Eaton 
by Mr. H. Garland on April 16th, 1894. 
FAMILY HIRUNDINIDA. 
SWALLOW. 
Hirunpbo rustica, Linnzus. 
This well-known summer visitor usually arrives in 
Cheshire about the end of the third week in April, 
although in some years we have seen it as early as the 
5th of the month. The birds begin to flock, preparatory 
to departure, early in September, and leave gradually 
during that month and the first half of October. In 
the mild autumn of 1896, Swallows and House Martins 
were observed in North Cheshire as late as the 15th of 
November. During summer the Swallow is universally 
distributed, and may be seen hawking for insects on 
the bleak hilltops as commonly as in the cultivated 
Plain. 
In late springs, Swallows are often driven to take 
refuge from the severe weather in buildings and out- 
houses, where many die from cold and hunger. In 
May 1886, hundreds perished in Cheshire. 
In 1872 a white Swallow was seen on the wing at 
Delamere ;! and in 1867 an albino was shot at Gayton, 
where it had been observed in the nest with three 
normally plumaged birds.? 
1 Field, vol. xl. p. 184. 
2D. M‘Isaac, Field, vol. xxx. p. 286. 
