PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES -,'*! 



tion. (Cf. B. A. Report, loc. oit. ; F. D. Power quoted by Tioehunt, B. of Kent, 

 1909, p. 131 ; and for swallows resting on board ship (Mediterranean), and for 

 "An Incident in the Southern Migration of the Swallow" (British East Africa), 

 cf. Lynes, British Birds, iii. pp. 140-4 ; and i. pp. 285-7, respectively.) For records 

 of marked swallows returning to the same breeding-place, see on p. 200. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The normal nesting-place in the British Isles is among 

 the roofing timbers of a shed or cow-house, but where thatched roofs are prevalent, 

 many nests are built inside chimneys. At the present time nearly all our nests 

 are in or about buildings, but a few exist in the roofs of caves, and several oases 

 have been recorded of nests on the branches of trees. As a rule, the nest rests 

 upon a foundation of some kind, sometimes a mere ledge, but often in the space 

 behind a beam and the wall. In such sites the shape is something like that of a 

 half saucer, with the flat side to the wall, but the rim is circular where the support 

 of the wall is wanting. Occasionally, however, nests of quite a different type, 

 closely resembling the normal type of house-martins, except that they are more 

 open at the top, almost cup-shaped, and built against walls close under eaves or 

 rafters, may be met with, but are generally placed at the angle of two walls if on 

 the outside of a building, though in most cases they are, of course, placed under 

 cover. (For further details see Zoologist, 1857, p. 5790; 1858, p. 6241 ; 1879, p. 157; 

 1892, p. 65; 1905, pp. 121, 181 : and Naturalist, 1890, pp. 258, 352.) Many quite 

 abnormal sites are also on record, such as on chains, wire ropes, hanging lamps, in 

 holes of walls, in tunnels, etc. The material used for building is mud, collected from 

 the road, and mixed with bents and straws, which frequently project from the walls 

 of the nest, while the lining consists of bents and feathers. (PI. xxx.) Both sexes 

 share in the work of construction. Eggs, 4-6 in number, usually 5, rather 

 elongated in shape, spotted and sometimes blotched with red-brown and ashy shell 

 marks on a white ground. (PL D.) Average size of 100 eggs, '77 x *54 in. [19*7 x 

 13*7 mm.]. Full clutches may be found from about the middle of May onward, 

 and incubation lasts from 15-16 days (W. Evans and S. E. Brock), while the 

 young remain three weeks in the nest. Incubation is performed by the hen 

 alone, the cock bringing food to her occasionally. Two broods are usually reared 

 in the season, and occasionally a third. Saunders records young still in the nest 

 on 23rd October. [F. c. R. j.] 



5. Food. Insects, chiefly flies and small beetles. The young are fed by 

 both parents. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. During the whole period of its stay. [F. B. K.] 



