SWALLOW. 247 



purpose of watering the ship. The passage occupied seven 

 days. It being just the period of the year when many 

 species of birds which make Europe their abode only in 

 the more genial seasons, were, after having passed the 

 winter in Africa, crossing the Mediterranean to their sum- 

 mer quarters, we were often gratified by a sight of them, 

 either passing, resting briefly on the rigging, or remaining 

 sometimes so long as a day or more about the ship. 



" April 22nd. Wind W., forty miles E. of Malta. 

 Two Swallows remained some time about the ship, perch- 

 ing on the rigging, and hawking over the deck in pursuit 

 of flies. 



" April 25th. Wind N.E., fifty-eight miles from Ca- 

 labria, the nearest land ; one hundred and thirty-five miles 

 from Mount Etna at sunset, when it was visible. Several 

 Swallows about the ship. 



"April 26th. Wind N.E., eighty-six miles from 

 Zante, the nearest land; one hundred and thirty miles 

 from Navarino. Several Swallows about the vessel during 

 the day, and some remained, perching upon one of the 

 boats throughout the night. 



" April 27th. Wind N., forty-five miles from Zante, 

 the nearest land, and in sight ; sixty miles W. of the 

 Morea. About a dozen Swallows, which rested last night 

 in the rigging, went off this morning. Throughout the 

 afternoon and towards evening many more arrived, and 

 continued flying about the ship in considerable numbers. 

 A few Martins appeared this morning, and remained through 

 the early part of the day, confining their flight to the lee- 

 side of the ship ; in the afternoon still more were seen 

 hawking about in company with Swallows : as flies were 

 numerous, they probably obtained plenty of food ; at four 

 in the afternoon all this species were gone." 



Other British birds seen were the Bee-eater, Black- 



