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LV. Some further Remarks on Swallows. By Mr. Gavin 

 Inglis. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Dear Sir, Having already intruded so much on the patience 

 of your readers with my remarks on the sagacity and habits of 

 the swallow, I feel rather inclined to apologize for troubling you 

 with anv thing further regarding these wonderfully wise little crea- 

 tures. " Still, however, I must encroach, to state a few circum- 

 stances which may amuse some of your friends, being corrobora- 

 tive of what was formerly stated. I shall, however, endeavour to 

 be as brief as may be consistent with perspicuity. 



In my former communications I stated minutely the circum- 

 stances attending the departure of the White Martin, or what is 

 known in this part of the country by the name of the White-tailed 

 Swallow, at an unusually early period of last year. These returned 

 this year as formerly, the same morning, and in company with the 

 Chimney Swallow, on the 15th of April, and brought forth two 

 successive incubations. The first v/as on wing by the end of June, 

 and the second early in September. About the middle of that 

 month the whole Martin tribe disappeared ; but the Chimney 

 Swallows remained in considerable numbers till the 3d instant, 

 when they also took their departure. 



The hibernal departure of this colony of Chimney Swallows 

 may this year have been protracted in consequence of a few tiles 

 having been blown from the roof of the boiling-house in a gale 

 of wind, by which means some of the bleach-field cats had on a 

 Sunday, when no person was near to protect the swallows, made 

 their way through these openings, and reached two nests when 

 the young brood was in a pretty advanced state. These v/ere 

 immediately devoured by ravenous puss. The tiles were replaced 

 on the Monday morning ; on which the old swallows resumed 

 possession of the nests, and in due time produced another hatch- 

 ing of young birds. 



From the time lost bv the destruction of the former, this hatch- 

 ing was considerably later than the collateral young of tiie se- 

 cond incul)ation, and seemed, after their kindred brood from the 

 other nests were on wing, and able to provide for themselves, 

 to l)ecome the adopted children of the colony. The feeding, 

 traininj.'-, and protecting them alike devolved on all, and became 

 one common concern. 



After these nestlings were able to roost on tlie house-top, I have 

 frc(|uently seen, toward evening, dozens of the old swallows al- 



Yol. 54. No. 25U. Nov. 1819. X tcrnatcly 



