SWALLOW 



CHIMNEY SWALLOW RED-FRONTED SWALLOW- 

 COMMON SWALLOW. 



PLATE LXI. 



Hirundo rustica, . . . LINNAEUS. PENNANT. 

 Hirundo domestica, . . . RAY. BRISSON. 



IN the month of May, about a month after the arrival of 

 the bird, the nest is commenced; and, as imported by 

 one of its trivial names, the inside of a chimney is a common 

 selection, and some angle or corner a few feet down is taken 

 advantage of for the support that it affords. 



The nest, which is open at the top, is formed of moist 

 earth, which the bird collects bit by bit in its bill, from the 

 side of a pond or stream, or the middle of a road, as may 

 often be seen. It is moulded into shape, intermixed with 

 straw and grass, and is finally lined with feathers, or such 

 like soft materials. 



Mr. Seebohm carefully describes the varied forms of the 

 nests. He says : " The nest of the Swallow is generally placed 

 on the joist which supports the rafters of a barn or other 

 outhouse, a few inches below the tiles or slates which form 

 the roof. In this position it rests upon the horizontal surface 

 of the joist, and is a ring of mud lined with dry grass and a 



few feathers. By far the greater number of Swallows' nests 



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