328 THE SWALLOW. 



Another instance of the re-appearance of swal- 

 lows, after their migration, was also observed at 

 Liverpool, a few years previous to the instance 

 already recorded. In that case their re-appear- 

 ance was attended with violent gales of wind, 

 which caused many vessels to put back into port. 



It may be mentioned that the retired master of 

 a vessel, who for many years commanded a ship 

 trading between Liverpool and the West Indies, 

 assured my correspondent, that when he was in 

 the Atlantic, it has occasionally happened, par- 

 ticularly after strong breezes from the eastward, 

 that considerable numbers, both of swallows and 

 martins, had alighted on the rigging and other 

 parts of the ship. In general they soon died, and, 

 as was conjectured, for want of food. The vessel 

 at the time was hundreds of miles from the con- 

 tinent of Africa, to which country these indefatiga- 

 ble emigrants were probably resorting. 



I have noticed, in a former work, my having 

 witnessed the arrival of swallows in the Spring. 

 On that occasion they settled on the ground, and 

 were so much exhausted that they allowed me to 

 approach close to them. If cold weather, how- 

 ever, sets in after the arrival of swallows, not one 

 is to be seen ; and I have, therefore, little doubt 

 but that they again take their departure from this 

 country. 



If this is the case, it becomes a curious subject 



