134 SWALLOW 



which I have seen in this country have been built in this 

 position and on this model. Other localities are also chosen 

 in England. It often breeds in a chimney, and occasionally 

 down a well or an old mine, or under a bridge or a doorway, 

 in all of which situations the nest is generally built on the 

 continental model. To make the nest strong, the Swallow 

 mixes with the mud of which the walls are composed dry 

 grass, straw, or hair. The mud-made shell or cup is neatly 

 lined with dry grass and a few feathers, generally obtained as 

 the bird flies through the air. In shape the nest is very 

 shallow, and, unlike the House Martin's, is always open, leaving 

 the sitting bird exposed to view. Some nests are much more 

 carefully made than others, depending to a great extent on 

 the peculiarities of the chosen site." 



The eggs are usually from four to six in number, white, 

 much speckled over with ash- colour, and dark red, or brown 

 and rufous. They vary considerably in marking, but the 

 ground colour is always pure white. 



