SWALLOW. 133 
The Swallow attaches itself, for the most part, to the 
habitations of man, and frequents especially such as are in 
the neighbourhood of water, over which it delights to sweep 
in search of its food, which there abounds. The eye cannot 
fail to be attracted and pleased by its graceful flight, and 
when, in autumn, we first miss the favourite bird, we feel 
that a blank is made, and that the hey-day of that summer 
is gone. We are not, however, altogether taken by surprise, 
as, for some short time previously, we have seen the birds 
marshalling themselves in large companies for their approaching 
journey—collecting together at some selected place of rendez- 
vous, flying to and fro, twittering and chirping, as if discussing 
their route, and arranging all the preliminaries necessary for 
a lengthened voyage. 
Swallows are generally thought to arrive here in the night, 
but it does not appear certain that this is, at all events 
always, the case. They have been seen departing in the 
afternoon in great numbers, ‘in a continuous line of more 
than half a mile in length, their families having been of 
course increased since the previous census. After their arrival 
they sometimes disappear again, re-migrating, as is thought, 
owing to the weather being unfavourable, or food being scarce 
in consequence; but it is possible that they may only shift 
their quarters, in search of a more congenial situation, or a 
better supply. In the summer, on a change of weather from 
drought to rain, numbers will at once appear where none had 
been seen before. 
The Swallow so times its migration as to pass about half 
the year in this country. The period of its arrival is generally 
about the 10th. of April; but there is no fixed chronology 
of the date; for it varies in different seasons—sometimes 
earlier, sometimes later. Three were seen hawking for insects 
near Wakefield, Yorkshire, January the 18th., 1837. One was 
seen near Lewes, Sussex, on the memorable Ist. of April, in 
1851; and one near the Eddystone lighthouse on the 4th. of 
April, 1831. Several at Plymouth, on the Sth. of April, 1849. 
It has been known as late as the 8th. of May. The time of 
departure is early in October, and so strong is the migratory 
instinct, that if the young of the second brood are not 
sufficiently advanced, they have been known to have been 
deserted. Some leave, or at least change their quarters, as 
soon as the middle of August; others about the middle or 
end of September, which is perhaps the chief time of their 
