Migration at Hospenthal. 201 



parallel valley to the east of it. That this ac- 

 count was true I was able to prove to my own 

 satisfaction, for on the morning of the next day I 

 was up in time to see a new party depart in 

 precisely the same manner and the same direction. 

 Like the Pipits, these Swallows and Martins 

 migrate in considerable flocks coming one behind 

 the other ; and so far as we could ascertain from 

 walks taken during the day, these flocks occupy 

 successively the steeples of Andermatt and Hos- 

 penthal, coming up from the lower valley and 

 settling first on the former, then leaving it when 

 the other is free, and so eventually leaving that 

 also to rise for their last flight over the great 

 barrier. How long this process goes on I could 

 not very clearly ascertain. But there were still 

 young martins in the nests at Hospenthal, which 

 would hardly be ready to fly for some days, and 

 as we subsequently found a certain number of 

 martins (though very few swallows) when we 

 returned to the Haslithal, I am inclined to think 

 that it occupies a considerable time, and differs in 

 length according to the weather. On the occa- 

 sion of my visit, though it was fine and warm, 



