CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 399 



and the forsaken shafts of mines and coal pits, 

 are all resorts during the season of incubation, 

 so that in a natural state, or rather in a country 

 wanting these structures, its breeding places may 

 be supposed to be the rents in rocks, and caves 

 or fissures. Two or three pairs often frequent 

 the same out-house, and are known to have re- 

 turned from year to year to the same nest. They 

 hunt in small parties ; as the time of their depar- 

 ture arrives, the young are collected together, and 

 many of those in the vicinity assemble ; at times 

 during the day they may be seen congregated on 

 the roof of some building, on a wall or railing, or 

 on some bare tree, pluming themselves, and resting 

 from the incessant activity, and hunting after food, 

 which characterizes them in the previous part of 

 the year. At this time, they also roost together, 

 and select for this place willow beds, or brush- 

 wood fringing some lake or stream, occasionally 

 among the tall reeds, and this has given rise to 

 the idea that they retired during winter under 

 water, for the departure of the great mass takes 

 place simultaneously ; and the retreat which was 

 one night enlivened by their evolutions and 

 sprightly twitter, is the next solitary, or rendered 

 to appearance more deserted, by the appearance of 

 the few who have been unable to accompany the 

 great body of the flight. 



In distribution, this species decreases north- 

 ward, but is abundant in central and southern 

 Europe. How far it extends into Asia has not 

 been traced, or whether it is partially migratory 



