THE SWALLOWS 



1697 



"The sixth of April is the earliest date on which we have observed the swallow 

 migrating through Great Britain, but some forward individuals generally contrive 

 to report themselves at a lighthouse or other haven of safety a week or two 

 before the arrival of the majority of their fellows. Even in the autumn months we 

 have seen a good deal of the migration of the swallows, although the movements 

 of the birds are less generally noticed at that season, because their departure is 



CHIMNEY SWAI,I,OW AND HOUSE MARTIN. 



(One-half natural size.) 



extended over so many weeks. A few springs ago we left the north of England, 

 and it was only when we reached Abbeville, on the fourteenth of April, that we fell in 

 with the first bird flying north alone. Early on the following morning at Bordeaux, 

 we saw a flock of swallows evidently newly waking up from a night of slumber, 

 and south of that town we continued to see occasional stragglers, but never met 

 with the species in pairs except in one or two exceptional instances. On our return 

 107 



