370 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



description of this specimen. He also mentions having 

 examined two more of these Birds^ and remarks on the 

 difference in the number of the waxhke appendages on the 

 wings. With regard to the Golden Oriole, of which he gives 

 a figure of a male^ he remarks : — ''This Bird^ which is very 

 rare in England^ though not so in France and other parts of 

 Europe, was killed in the Neighbourhood and sent to me on 

 the 4th of May, 1807.'' 



" The Swalloiv Tribe. — The earliest Visitor of this Tribe in 

 these Parts is the common House Swallow, Hirundo rustica, 

 which makes its first Appearance generally in April. I 

 never saw it sooner than the 7th of that Month, nor have I 

 observed it later in the Year than the 16th of November, 

 and then but few of them, for they, in general, disappear 

 at least a Month sooner. 



''The next is the House Martin, Hirundo urbica, which 

 appears usually in April. I never saw it earlier than the 

 14th of that Month, but I once saw it so late as the 8th of 

 December, though the generality of them had disappeared 

 long before that Time. 



" The Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, usually appears in 

 May. Having a Sand Bank in the Neighbourhood, where 

 some of these Birds breed, I have been able to ascertain 

 with some Degree of Certainty the Appearance of these Birds 

 for the last three Years. In 1789, on the 28th of April, 

 none were to be seen ; but on the 6th of May I saw several. 

 In 1790, on the 8th of May, none Avere to be seen ; but on 

 the 11th I saw several. Also iu 1791, on the 5th and 7th 

 of May, none were to be seen, the Weather being cold. On 

 the 8th it grew warmer ; and on the 10th I saw several. 

 In the first of these Years I saw one of these Birds about 

 the End of September for the last Time. In the next Year I 

 visited the Sand Bank on the 6th of September, but no 

 Birds were to be seen. In 1791 I went from home in 

 August, and when I returned on the 23rd of September, 

 none of these Birds were to be seen near the Sand Pit. 



