THE SWALLOW 
HIRUNDO RUSTICA 
Locat names in surrounding counties : 
Sratrus 1n British Avirauna: A common and widely 
distributed summer visitor, of almost universal occurrence. 
Rapiat DistriBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Pauw’s: The Swallow is a common summer visitor to all 
suitable parts of the Metropolitan area. ‘There can be no 
doubt that years ago the bird nested very much nearer to 
St. Paul’s than it does now. ‘There are spots to which 
it yearly resorts to nest within the four-mile radius, but 
these are few. It is recorded as having bred in 1884 on 
St. Luke’s Church at Battersea, and undoubtedly does so 
in the Dulwich and Hampstead districts. It is more 
commonly dispersed in the outlying suburbs, and breeds 
from a radius which includes Tooting, Streatham, Barnes, 
Chiswick, Acton, Willesden, Highgate, Hornsey, Wood 
Green, Leyton, Stratford, Wanstead, Greenwich, and 
Sydenham to the extreme boundaries of the Metropolis. 
During spring and autumn the Swallow often visits the 
more central localities. I have seen it flying over the 
City, and it frequently resorts to the urban parks. I have 
watched it hawking for insects above the Serpentine, 
the lake in St. James’s Park, the ornamental water in 
Regent’s Park, and the Thames between Battersea and 
Westminster. Years ago it might often be seen flitting 
above the filtering-beds near Battersea Park Station, and 
may be now. 
If the atmosphere of inner London, could be made 
purer and better adapted for insect life there can be little 
doubt that the Swallow would return to many long- 
deserted haunts and rear its young within them. All 
other conditions are suitable, for there are many towns 
in England where the Swallow may be seen threading 
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