HIRUNDO RUSTICA. 191 



The Red-Fkonted (or Chimney) Swallow. 



( Hirundo Rustica.) Linn. 



" The little birdies blithely sing-, 

 Or lightly flit on wanton wing 



In the Birks of Aberfeldy." — Burns. 



This cheery summer visitor generally arrives about St 

 Andrews in the end of April; I have seen it on the 16th. It 

 has been seen as early as the middle of March, in mild 

 seasons ; for birds, like the buds and flowers of Spring, are 

 regulated by the mildness or severity of Mother Nature, and 

 come sooner or later at her bidding. Sometimes she calls them 

 too early, like the buds and blossoms on fruit trees, to their 

 destruction. Between May the 10th to the 15th, in 1886, a 

 great number of swallows were destroyed by the severe storm 

 and low temperature of that week. They were found lying 

 dead in great numbers, killed by cold and hunger. The news- 

 papers were full of this unkindness of the season. The Glas- 

 gow Herald said : — 



"The storm and the low temperature of the past week has proved fatal 

 to a large number of swallows in the Annan district, the birds found 

 having evidently been killed by cold and hunger." 



No doubt their insect food had perished also. The Scotsman 

 said : — 



"Extraordinary Destruction of Swallows.— A very remarkable effect 

 of the recent gale is the wholesale destruction of swallows in the Northern 

 Counties of England. In Cumberland and Westmoreland the destruction 

 was great. On the gravel at Basanthwaite Station 200 swallows and sand 

 martins were picked up dead ; and at Appleby and Windermere and other 

 places in the Lake district, swallows have been found dead in scores." 



The storm and cold not being so severe with us, no such 

 destruction of our lively summer visitors took place near St 

 Andrews. But on October 1st, 1889, Mr Thomas Nicol, Bal- 

 gonie, Markinch, in Rod and Gun, said :— 



"Few swallows visited Fifeshire this season. A few pairs came as usual 

 at first, fluttered about for a few days, but were seen no more. And now 

 has come the time when the departure of swallows should be noted ; but not 

 one is to be seen in this quarter. How can this be accounted for ? After 

 the birds arrived the weather was wet, cold, and uncongenial : insects were 

 not to be got, and the birds perished. Their old haunts under cottage eaves 

 are empty, and their absence is much deplored. Bats are equally scarce; 

 being also insectivorous. Wasps have been fewer, but scape bees have 

 made heavy stores. Wild bees have been rarely seen. Midges used to 

 be perplexingly plentiful, so that veils have had to be worn by people walk- 

 ing along the roads in September. Now these pests are rare ; and not a 

 chirp from grasshoppers heard this season." 



