32 FAUNA OF NORTH WALES 



52. — SWALLOW, Hirundo riistica rustica L. 



Summer migrant, generally distributed and common. 



Frtank Buckland's account of hibernating Swallows is obviously 

 taken from Pennant, who in his British Zoology states that 

 " Rev. — Conway of Sychton [Soughton], Flintshire, a few years 

 ago [i.e., about 1770], on looking down an old lead mine in that 

 county, observed a number of Swallows clinging to the timbers 

 of the shaft, seemingly asleep. On flinging some gravel on them 

 they just moved, but never attempted to fly or change their 

 place. This was between All Saints and Christmas." 



In the Vert. Fauna of Cheshire, I., 190, Mr. J. J. Cash is quoted 

 to the effect that when leaving Cheshire in autumn Swallows and 

 Martins invariabh' flj- westward. Mr. S. G. Cummings, on 10th 

 Jime, 1918, found a nest built between two branches forming the 

 flat roof of a shed in Red Wliarf Bay, Anglesey. 



53.— HOUSE MARTIN. Delichon urbica nrhica L. 



Summer migrant, common in lowlands and valleys, except Lleyn and parts 

 of Anglesey. 



The late C. K. Siddall informed me that he noticed that in the 

 Swallows' Cave, Bull Bay, the Martins seem always to be 

 overtaken by cold weather, there being many young in the 

 nests at the end of September— the 28th, in 1908. > Mr. R. W. 

 Jones has found young in nests on the Great Orme's Head in 

 October. 



54. — SAND MARTIN. Riimria riparia riparia (L.). 



Summer migrant, generally distributed in suitable localities, except in 

 Anglesey, where it is not common. 



The earliest date of arrival noted in Wales was 24th JMarch, 

 1913, when several were observed passing in Carnarvonshire. 

 Mr. R. W. Jones remarks that the Sand Martin is micommon 

 now in the Llandudno district as a breeding bird, though formerly 

 large numbers used to breed in the sandhills along the Conway 

 estuary, and it is still numerous as a passing migrant. 



55.— GREENFINCH. Chhris chloris chloris (L.). 



Resident, generally distributed, and abundant almost everywhere. 



The stomachs of two killed at Prestatyn in October were found 

 bv Dr. R. Newstead to be full of charlock seeds. Mr. S. G. 



