144 * AMONGST THE WOODLAND BIRDS— 
get quite strong on the wing, and migrate with 
their parents in the autumn. The old birds 
lay a second clutch of eggs as soon as the 
little ones are gone, or even before this, I 
have thought. Perhaps this fledgling had 
taken its first flight and collided with the tele- 
graph wires, which seem to be multiplied each 
week |! Anyhow,some mishap overtook it. I 
picked it up insensible, and it breathed for 
several hours afterwards, but finally suc- 
cumbed—the cause of death was concussion 
of the brain, I think. ~ 
A similar bird to the house-martin and the 
swallow is the swift. It has a considerably 
broader expanse of wing than either of the 
other birds, and is totally black, or rather 
brownish-black, except the chin which is 
ereyish-white. 
The swallow is buff-white on the chest 
and the under part of the body (not a pure 
white like that of the martin), whilst the 
forehead, chin and throat are chestnut, and 
the back and tail an exquisite shiny deep blue- 
black. The swallow is larger than the house- 
