SWALLOW. 133 



The Swallow attaches itself, for the most part, to the 

 habitations of man, and frequents especially such as are in 

 the neighbourhood of water, over which it delights to sweep 

 in search of its food, which there abounds. The eye cannot 

 fail to be attracted and pleased by its graceful flight, and 

 when, in autumn, we first miss the favourite bird, we feel 

 that a blank is made, and that the hey-day of that summer 

 is gone. We are not, however, altogether taken by surprise, 

 as, for some short time previously, we have seen the birds 

 marshalling themselves in large companies for their approaching 

 journey collecting together at some selected place of rendez- 

 vous, flying to and fro, twittering and chirping, as if discussing 

 their route, and arranging all the preliminaries necessary for 

 a lengthened voyage. 



Swallows are generally thought to arrive here in the night, 

 but it does not appear certain that this is, at all events 

 always, the case. They have been seen departing in the 

 afternoon in great numbers, 'in a continuous line of more 

 than half a mile in length,' their families having been of 

 course increased since the previous census. After their arrival 

 they sometimes disappear again, re-migrating, as is thought, 

 owing to the weather being unfavourable, or food being scarce 

 in consequence; but it is possible that they may only shift 

 their quarters, in search of a more congenial situation, or a 

 better supply. In the summer, on a change of weather from 

 drought to rain, numbers will at once appear where none had 

 been seen before. 



The Swallow so times its migration as to pass about half 

 the year in this country. The period of its arrival is generally 

 about the 10th. of April; but there is no fixed chronology 

 of the date; for it varies in different seasons sometimes 

 earlier, sometimes later. Three were seen hawking for insects 

 near Wakefield, Yorkshire, January the 18th., 1837. One was 

 seen near Lewes, Sussex, on the memorable 1st. of April, in 

 1851; and one near the Eddystone lighthouse on the 4th. of 

 April, 1831. Several at Plymouth, on the 8th. of April, 1849. 

 It has been known as late as the 8th. of May. The time of 

 departure is early in October, and so strong is the migratory 

 instinct, that if the young of the second brood are not 

 sufficiently advanced, they have been known to have been 

 deserted. Some leave, or at least change their quarters, as 

 soon as the middle of August; others about the middle or 

 end of September, which is perhaps the chief time of their 



