Birds. 9845 



assembled on tlie houses near the cliffs, not only the roofs of which 

 were covered, but the chimneys too, and scafiblding." " 1855, Sep- 

 tember 10th. Saw innumerable swallows and martins ; and at about ten 

 o'clock a great number of swallows assembled on the roofs and chim- 

 neys of the houses on the cliffs (iheir usual resort)." " 1863, 

 September 6th. Swallows commenced congregating on our coast." 

 " 1864. A considerable flock of swallows had appeared here by the 

 29th of August." In remarking (Zool. 9434), " Swallows and martins 

 remained in the under-cliff fully a month later than in the neighbour- 

 hood of York," I did not mean that the first migration is so much 

 later; for, with regard to that, there is seemingly little difference, as 

 your York correspondent, writing on the 1st October, says (Zool. 9328), 

 " I have not seen one for above a week ;" this date corresponding with 

 that of the first migratory move along the southern coast. 



Martin. — September 4. Though the first brood of martins did not 

 leave the nest till the 4th or 5lh of August, I find that the old birds 

 are rearing another progeny, having watched them to-day feeding 

 their young, which can be but lately hatched, as they have to creep 

 into the nest to feed them. There is another nest of young martins 

 under the same eaves, and a third on a neighbouring house. Mac- 

 gillivray says that two broods are " sometimes raised ;" but here is an 

 instance of three pairs rearing two broods each, though the first did 

 not fly till the first week in August — a pretty good proof that two 

 broods are generally reared in the south. A contributor to Mac- 

 gillivray's work (p. 589, vol. iii.), says, " The second brood is generally 

 abroad by the middle of June ;" but this I believe is rather the excep- 

 tion than the rule, even in the south of England. However, this 

 species was unusually late in breeding this season, and the three 

 pairs under observation had nests to build as well as furnish. 27th. 

 The last of the young martins has taken wing : I was prepared fur 

 this, having yesterday afternoon observed the old birds endeavouring 

 to entice them out by flying round and about the nest; occasionally 

 making a feint, as if about to feed them, and after soaring at the 

 opening suddenly disappearing. One is not surprised at the young 

 hesitating to take the plunge, their powers of flight yet untried. 

 I find to-day both the old and young birds flying about the neighbour- 

 hood, and one of the latter entered the nest. The young were easily 

 distinguished by their smaller size, greater whiteness and peculiar flight, 

 not darling and wheeling about like the adults, but soaring in narrow 

 circles around the building. 28lh. Neither the young nor the old birds 

 have been seen about the nest to-day. SOth. Though I have been 



