412 COMMON BARN SWALLOW. 



" In the inside of the large wooden vane of Bridgehaugh Mill, Ber- 

 wickshire, for fourteen successive years, a pair of them have resided. 

 The original nest is still remaining. Upon it, during that long period, 

 there have been only two other nests built, which are ranged in tiers 

 one above another, nearly all the same size, and plastered with mud 

 mixed with straw. For several seasons their young have been suffo- 

 cated by the smoke of the fire, which, during summer, is occasionally 

 put on for the purpose of drying corn and barley. After the destruc- 

 tion of their brood in July last, they did not attempt to occupy their 

 old abode, but erected another upon the side of the wall at no great dis- 

 tance from it. 



" By some naturalists an erroneous opinion has been maintained, that 

 the Chimney Swallows differ from the Window Martins, in their not 

 returning to their old nests, but always building new ones. 



" In the inside of the cowhouse at Bathville, in my immediate neigh- 

 bourhood, there are two nests fixed on the tiles at the top of the roof, 

 which have been possessed by these Swallows, the one five, and the 

 other six years. 



" In the stable at Heatherfield, parish of Bathgate, Mr John Waugh, 

 farmer, informed me, that the same nest (out of which I took the young 

 ones that I sent to you) has been occupied by a pair of them, for twen- 

 ty-one successive years, in which, each season, they have brought up two 

 broods. During that time they have only occasionally put a little clay 

 around the edge of it, and repaired the feathers in the inside. It is a 

 curious fact, that in the morning before the door was opened, they were 

 in the habit of flying out and in at a small aperture at the bottom of 

 it. That entrance, however, having been shut up last spring, these ac- 

 tive little creatures were determined not to be excluded, for they found 

 a passage through a gutter which was only 6 inches in breadth by 5^ 

 in length. 



"For three successive years, apair of them took possession of the same 

 nest which was built upon the wooden lintel of the cart-house at West- 

 mains, parish of Bathgate. It was within six feet of a large Newfound- 

 land dog. Although it, during the day, was in continual motion, and 

 very often barked, they brought up two broods each summer. In June 

 last, their eggs having been destroyed by rats, they appeared to have 

 had such a dislike at these voracious animals, that they immediately for- 

 sook their old residence. 



