414 COMMON BARN SWALLOW. i 



V " In Skeltymuir, near Dalhousie Castle, there is a large pit cradled 

 with stone, in which between forty and fifty pairs of them have for 

 many years dwelt and reared their young. 



" To Ballencrieff and Hilderstone coal-pits, in the vicinity of Bath- 

 gate, they annually resort. Although their nests were built at a con- 

 siderable depth, it was surprising to observe with what rapidity and 

 ease they flew up and down. 



" But they not only frequent abandoned pits, but even those which 

 are in use. 



" In Colinshiels coal-pit, in the parish of Bathgate, I have seen 

 their nests, which were built between the branders or bars, at the 

 depth of two, three, and nearly four fathoms. Of the banksmen and 

 colliers they appeared to be regardless ; even the hatches, which were 

 often drawn up and down, did not annoy them. To their offspring 

 they are so strongly attached, that I have been assured by those who 

 were eye-witness of the fact, that they often continued to sit upon 

 them when the pit was full of smoke. In Borbaughlan coal-pit, which 

 is narrower than the former, they likewise build and rear their young. 

 A collier informed me, upon whose veracity I can depend, that he is 

 well acquainted with a man named Malcolm, who, a few years ago, lost 

 his hand in the act of robbing a nest of its young in a coal-pit in the 

 parish of Shotts : the hatch in which he was standing having been un- 

 expectedly drawn up, occasioned the accident. The nest was built at 

 the astonishing depth of fifteen fathoms. 



" You will observe, from the account which I have given of some 

 of the different situations in which these Swallows build, that, at least 

 in Scotland, the name ' Chimney' is not very appropriate." 



An individual of this species preserved in spirits measures to end of 

 tail 6i2 inches, to end of wings 6^^^ ; wing from flexure 4}§ ; tail 3;^ ; 

 extent of wings 12 1^. The roof of the mouth is flat and somewhat 

 transparent ; the posterior aperture of the nares oblongo-linear, mar- 

 gined with strong papillae ; the tongue 3^ twelfths long, triangular, 

 emarginate and papillate at the base, thin, the tip slit and lacerate. 

 The mouth is supplied with numerous mucous crjrpts ; its width is b\ 

 twelfths. There is a very narrow flattened salivary gland, similar to 

 that of the Purple Martin, but proportionally smaller. The oesopha- 

 gus is 2 inches long, 1^ twelfth in width, simple or without dilatation. 



I 



