Enetanp :—Durham; specified areas in Northumberland and York (East Riding) ; 
—Leicester ; Lincoln (Kesteven and Lindsey); West Suffolk; Worcester; specified 
areas in Cambridge, Chester, Norfolk and East Suffolk ;—Kent; Metropolitan 
Police District, including London and Middlesex; specified areas in Devon and 
Isle of Wight. 
Scoruanp :—Orkney (Swallow and House Martin). 
In the above places, any owner or occupier, or other person, taking or destroying the 
eges of these birds is liable to a penalty of £1 for each egg. 
ty 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1896.—In addition to any penalty under the Act of 1880, 
the Court may now order any trap, net, snare, etc., used by the offender to be 
forfeited. 
These birds are protected throughout the whole year in the County of Middlesex. 
VII. Remarks. 
1. Tue Swattow.—True it is that one swallow does not make a summer, and this 
charming bird which comes to us with the promise of sunny skies and opening Howers, 
frequently falls a victim to its misplaced confidence in the changing climate of our 
inhospitable springs. 
While yet “the trembling year is unconfrm’d,” and winter oft resumes, the breeze ‘chills 
the pale morn and bids his driving sleets deform the day delightless,” the early arrivals of 
these birds suffer greatly ; it is piteous to see them skimming wearily over the water or under 
the shelter of a wall or fence, too often only to fall victims to cold and starvation. But 
when warm sunny weather has at last taken the place of fitful spring, and insect life has 
responded to its genial influence, what a thing of beauty is this charming bird as it pursues 
its rapid flight, turning and doubling in the chase of its active prey, or sits sunning itself 
on some chimney or gable, softly warbling its pretty song; or it may be on the margin of 
the village pond, collecting the moist soil which is to form the foundation of its nest! 
Hunting over the grass, in and out amongst the cattle, or under the eaves of houses, 
this sociable little bird is seldom seen far from the haunts of man, and when its nesting site 
is chosen, it is either the large open chimney of some humble cottage, the rustic porch, or 
the rafters of the cattle shed or barn. Its whole existence seems to be a delight, and it is 
absolutely fearless of man, as though conscious of the benefits it confers upon him. Not 
much time is wasted after its arrival before the cares of housekeeping begin to occupy its 
little breast, and the old nest is inspected and repaired, or if need be a new one constructed. 
This is a saucer-shaped structure built of clay, mterwoven with grass or straw and warmly 
lined with feathers; and herein it deposits its five or six lovely translucent white eggs, 
prettily spotted with orange-brown and grey. These in due time are hatched, and early 
and late the parent birds may be seen hurrying to and fro feeding their hungry young 
ones. No prettier sight than watching this labour of love can be imagined, and the writer 
recalls a nest attached to the rafters of a summer-house where the parents passed in and 
. 
