206 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



distributed throughout every parish from the sea margin to the 

 highest moorlands. I have observed its nest under bridges, and 

 also in the rafters of old and dismantled shielings in the midst of 

 the wildest mountain scenery; and Mr Struthers has informed me 

 that two years ago, when in company with some friends on the top 

 of Ben Cruachan in Argyleshire, the elevation of which is not less 

 than 3,400 feet, he saw several Swallows soaring high above the 

 summit of the topmost peak. 



Large flocks of Swallows are observed congregating in Ayrshire 

 and Wigtownshire previous to their final departure from the south- 

 western districts of Scotland. In the neighbourhood of Girvan 

 the young birds that have been hatched in the uplands assemble 

 on the banks of the Girvan water within two miles of the sea, 

 where they remain until the middle of September. Many hundreds 

 have been seen by Mr Anderson and myself resting themselves 

 during the day on the branches of trees* and betaking themselves 

 at nightfall to a clump of alder bushes growing on the margin of 

 the river, and overhanging the deepest pools. From these bushes 

 we have repeatedly dislodged the birds after nightfall, and have 

 noticed that their habit of roosting there extends over a period of 

 two or three weeks previous to the general migration. 



It is somewhat interesting to notice that as this and the next 

 mentioned species have been gradually drawn from their natural 

 haunts, the chimney swallow has shown less trust in man's 

 protection than its congeners. Hence we see that while the 

 martin swarms in almost every town and village, and the gloomy 

 swift occupies holes in the masonry of fashionable squares, the 

 elegant and dashing Swallow often repairs to rural spots, even in 

 moors, where it passes its brief summer skimming the purple 

 heath and cradling its brood under some rustic bridge. There it 

 will take up its abode, placing its nest lined with game birds 

 feathers under the stone arches through which the moorland 

 burn rolls its dark waters a pleasant lullaby it may be to the 

 first brood, but too often the requiem of later fledglings. 



In East Lothian I have seen Swallows breeding in the funnel 

 of a kiln for drying oats. Two or three nests were built on the 

 wood work, and the birds did not appear to be disturbed while the 



*In August, 1870, we observed from 80 to 100 swallows perched on an ash 

 tree in full leaf by the side of the public road between Girvan and Dailly. 



