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of populous places, where it is protected and 

 favoured by the inhabitants, who commonly place 

 nest-boxes on the tops of the houses for its con- 

 venience. When these are not provided, the Stork 

 builds on the tops of chimneys, steeples, and lofty 

 ruins. In the nest, which is made of dry sticks, 

 twigs, and aquatic plants, the female lays from 

 two to four yellowish white eggs. 



SWALLOW, CHIMNEY. 



HIBTJNDO KusxiCA, Lin. 



The Chimney Swallow generally makes its ap- 

 pearance in the south of England early in April, 

 but is seldom seen in the northern counties, or in 

 Scotland, before the middle or latter part of that 

 month. Towards the latter end of September it 

 prepares for its migration to the warm regions of 

 Africa, where it passes the winter months. Its 

 food is insects, which it takes with great dexterity 

 on the wing. The nest is placed under the eaves 

 of outhouses, on beams or rafters within them, on 

 the face of rocks, in quarries., in the sides of walls, 

 or in the shafts of old coal pits, and is formed of 

 mud, with a lining of grass and feathers. The 

 eggs, of which there are four or five, are white, 

 speckled with reddish brown. 



