104 



The common swallow appears about the latter end 

 of March, and leaves about the end of September. 



It builds its nest in chimneys, or under the eaves 

 of houses. The nest is of a cylindrical shape, con- 

 structed of mud, mixed with straw and hair, and lined 

 with feathers. 



The female lays 5 or 6 eggs, which are white, 

 speckled with red. 



The swallow often breeds twice a year. 



White Swallow. Dr. Traill of Liverpool commu- 

 nicated to the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, No. 

 4., p. 391, the following fact: 



f( On 22d Aug. 1819, I found in a nest of the hirundo 

 rustica, at Greenbank, near this town, a perfectly white 

 swallow, fully fledged. The nest contained another young 

 bird of the usual colour. The plumage of the former was 

 pure snow-white, with a gloss like sattin on the head, neck, 

 wing-coverts and back. The animal was a perfect albino, 

 having red eyes, pale reddish beak and legs. On replacing 

 it in the nest, it speedily fled away, but was instantly at- 

 tacked by fifty or sixty common swallows, that appeared to 

 peck at and buffet it so cruelly, that it took refuge in a 

 tree, from which it was not easily raised. On again essaying 

 its wings, its persecutors assembled round it in great num- 

 bers, accompanying it until distance concealed it from our 

 sight. A few days after it was shot near its former habita- 

 tion, and both it and its brother swallow are now in my 

 possession." 



