On the Swallow. 273 
they no sooner possessed and put in a comfortable state, than 
they, with the others of their kin, began the duties of the sea- 
son; and by the Ist of July their first brood were full fledged and 
flown, and hy the 4th of July the nests were thoroughly cleaned 
out, new furnished and feathered, and their second incubation 
begun, some new nests built, and one of a very particular con- 
struction completed. Notwithstanding all this, by the middle of the 
month they began to assemble in groups upon the roof of the dry- 
ing-house, the ordinary place of general resort for all classes prior 
to the usual departure for the season. I was rather surprised the 
first two or three evenings of their grouping, knowing from their 
former habits that this was indicative of a change. I had all their 
nests examined, and found one, two, and three eggs in each,—none 
without an egg. I could then hardly allow myself to believe it 
possible during so fine a season, and at so early a period of the 
year, that their intentions were migratory. In this, however, I 
Was soon undeceived ; the training exercise, or preparation of 
the young brood for the destined flight, immediately commenced, 
and they finally roosted among a collection of bull-rushes grow- 
ing on a bank in the midst of the Leven; from which they took 
their final departure on the fourth night of their occupation of 
this retreat, and have never since been seen. 
After no doubt could remain of their being off, I conceived this an 
excellent opportunity of putting their fancied submerging among 
the flags and rushes, along the banks of lakes and rivers, to the 
test of actual survey and experiment. ‘Iwo stout men instantly 
volunteered their services, and immediately stripped, went into the 
river, searched all the flags, rushes, banks and braes round and 
near the spot where they were last seen. Not, a hole nor stone 
was left unexamined; and the roots of the rushes and even the mud 
were most carefully handled, and the shelvings under the banks. 
In short, no creature could possibly have escaped the pursuit, nor 
eluded in any way the unwearied anxiety and diligence of the 
searchers ; but not a feather nor a swallow was to be found. 
The theory of their submerging, in my opinion, is all a dream, 
in which this search has gone its length to confirm me; and the 
following anecdote may not be improperly narrated, as it refers 
to the refutation of this same absurd opinion :—On the 11th of 
April 1812, returning from Glasgow with a friend, we stopped 
at Kinross to corn our horses and take a parting dinner. Before 
dinner was ready we took a turn down to the Old Chapel, and re- 
turning by the loch side, we both expressed our astonishment at 
the vast assemblage of swallows, the first we had seen that season, 
hovering over the surface of that corner of the lake which runs up 
towards thetown by the south side of Kinross plantation. “What!” 
said my companion, “ can the creatures have emerged from the 
Vol. 52. No. 246. Oct. 1818, S water ? 
