4 



about twelve; the head, breast, and upper parts 

 of its body and wings black ; the back is of a very 

 shining blueish black colour; the forehead and 

 chin marked with a reddish spot ; the tail much 

 forked. This species is generally the first which 

 arrives in spring. It usually is first seen about the 

 first or second week of April, but does not become 

 numerous till the beginning of May. The num- 

 bers, however, continue to increase till near June, 

 so that there must be fresh arrivals at different 

 times. In July and August their numbers increase 

 by the accession of the broods of young, and soon 

 after Michaelmas their numbers decrease, and 

 by the second week in October they are all gone, 

 except perhaps a straggler seen till November. 

 This bird makes its nest in barns, outhouses, in 

 holes under thatches, and very frequently in chim- 

 nies, about a foot below the top. Hence the com- 

 mon name, chimney shallow. It has two broods in 

 the year. Like the rest of this tribe, it is per- 

 petually on the wing, and lives upon insects, which 

 it catches flying. Before rain, it may often be seen 

 skimming round the edge of a lake or river, and 



