4752 Tue ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 
December. During the thirty years or more that I have paid 
attention to the autumnal migration of the Hirundines on this 
coast, their line of flight has invariably been to the east or south- 
east. It may be thought strange that those in the western counties 
do not take a more southerly course, crossing the Channel at 
once; but seemingly they prefer travelling overland, hawking by 
the way; besides the woody, hilly and undulating nature of the 
country passed over is a shelter and protection. Crossing the Strait 
from the Sussex coast, then by France, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, 
Malta, and adjacent islands, they would arrive in Africa, having 
had little sea to pass over. 
In support of the theory of a September migration, I now give a 
few extracts from my notes; but some years the final flight only is 
recorded in them, or the list of September migrations would no 
doubt have been longer. That there is a general move early in 
September on the Continent, too, I had pretty good proof this 
season, having observed both swallows and martins flocking 
together in great numbers, both in Switzerland and Italy. 
Extracts From Note-Books. 
1852, Sept. 10. There are to-day some hundreds of swallows congregating. 
1853, Sept. 17. Observed hundreds of swallows assembling on the roofs of 
the houses. 
1854, Sept. 7. There was a migratory flight. . 
1855, Sept. 10. Saw innumerable swallows and martins on the roofs and 
chimneys of the houses on the cliffs. 
1863, Sept. 6. Swallows have commenced congregating on our coast. 
1864, Aug. 29. A considerable flock of young swallows has appeared. 
1865, Sept. 17. Junumerable swallows and a few martins seen in rapid 
flight to the eastward, against the wind. 
1867, Sept. 19. Swallows seen in great numbers; I believe the migration 
has commenced. 
1874, Sept. 18. From an early hour numerous swallows seen, the wind 
having veered to the east during the night. 
1875, Sept. 15. Swallows met with at sea between Dieppe and Newhaven. 
Henry HADFIELD. 
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, November 26, 1875. 
