THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 57 

 IV 



THE SWALLOWS 



THE most generally known and characteristic of the 

 whole of our summer visitors are the swallows. 

 Of these we have four the temple-haunting martlet, 

 the true swallow, the sand-martin, and the swift ; 

 while in close relation stand the purple martin (a 

 casual visitor to our shores), and the Alpine swift 

 (a species even still more rare). 



The swallows are essentially birds of return, and it 

 may easily be proved that the birds which this year 

 nest beneath our eaves are those which occupied 

 the self-same spot twelve months ago. About the 

 beginning of April the hirundines begin to arrive 

 in this country. First comes the delicate sand- 

 martin. This is the smallest member of the family, 

 and for a time after its arrival it seldom strays far 

 from the stiller pools and sheltered reaches of the 

 river where insects are abundant. The sand-martin 

 is closely followed by the true swallow, which, with 

 the sun glinting from its steel-blue back, may 

 usually be seen about the second week in April 

 skimming low over the meadows. Some days later 

 follows the familiar house-martin, and towards the 

 end of the month, or in the beginning of May, the 

 large black swift makes its appearance. 



