326 THE SWALLOW. 



history journals, or provincial newspapers. Such 

 accounts would prove very interesting. 



I am indebted to the kindness of an intelligent 

 and observant correspondent, in Lancashire, for 

 the following remarks on the migration and re- 

 appearance of the swallow in the year 1832. He 

 informed me that the middle and end of the month 

 of September, in that year, were remarkable for the 

 mildness of the weather, for bright sunshine, and 

 abundance of the insect tribe. On the twenty- 

 fifth of that month, which was a warm and fine 

 day, the common swallow (hirundo rustica) was 

 skimming about as alertly as in the middle of 

 summer, but on the twenty-sixth it was no longer 

 to be seen. They appeared at once to have taken 

 their departure. The Martin (hirundo urbica) still 

 remained in considerable numbers ; and on the 

 fourth of October many of them were seen, but 

 only one solitary chimney swallow. 



On the 7th of October the rapid fall of the ba- 

 rometer announced either the approach of a storm, 

 or of some great change in the weather ; although 

 throughout the day it continued mild and placid. 

 In the afternoon, great numbers of the common 

 swallow were skimming and flying about, appa- 

 rently in full vigour, both of health and plumage. 

 They appeared, to use a nautical phrase, to have 

 " put back," for on the next day the mercury drop- 

 ped rapidly more and more. In the course of the 



