THE SWALLOW. 177 



summer, and in the countries bordering the 

 Mediterranean it is especially abundant at the 

 periods of migration in spring and autumn. 

 Mr. Wright has observed it arriving in Malta 

 in great numbers from the south early in March, 

 and again, on its return southwards in autumn, 

 it is common over the island until October. On 

 the island of Filfla, a few miles south of Malta, 

 the same observer has noticed it in May. At 

 Gibraltar and in Spain Mr. Howard Saunders 

 has detected it as early as February, making its 

 way north ; and, as an instance of how these 

 delicate birds at times get blown out of their 

 course by adverse winds, it may be remarked 

 that Prince Charles Bonaparte saw Swallows 

 and Martins at sea 500 miles from Portugal and 

 400 miles off the coast of Africa. Sir William 

 Jardine has recorded the presence of the Swallow 

 at Madeira, and Mr. Osbert Salvin, writing on 

 May 28 (" Ibis," 1859, p. 334), says : "Some 

 Swallows came on board when we were 180 

 miles north-west of the Azores, so that it is 

 probable that the bird is found in these islands." 



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