116 



SWALLOW. 



CHIMNEY SWALLOW. COMMON SWALLOW. 

 RED-FRONTED SWALLOW. 



PLATE LXI. 



Hirundo rustica, . . . LinnyEUS. Pennant. 

 Sirundo domestica, . . . Eat. Beisson. 



In the month of May, about a month after the arrival 

 of the bird, the nest is commenced; and, as imported 

 by one of its trivial names, the inside of a chimney is 

 a common selection, and some angle or corner a few 

 feet down is taken advantage of for the support that 

 it affords. The precise situation is frequently resorted 

 to that has been made use of in previous seasons. 



The nest, which is open at the top, is formed of 

 moist earth which the bird collects bit by bit in its 

 bill, from the side of a pond or stream, or the middle 

 of a road, as may often be seen. It is moulded into 

 shape, intermixed with straw and grass, and is finally 

 lined with feathers, or such like soft materials. A nest 

 of this species has been found placed in a ventilating 

 pipe, which was composed exclusively of feathers, no 

 mud being used. 



The eggs are usually from four to six in number, 

 white, much speckled over with ash-colour, and dark 

 red, or brown and rufous. 



