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indeed, wlierever he went it was exceedingly common. Dr. Bradshaw noticed it very 

 plentifully on the Orange Eiver. We have seen a considerable number of specimens 

 from all parts of the Cape Colony and Xatal, and Mr. Ayres has met with the species 

 near Potchefstroom in January. He says : " I found these Swallows, mostly vounc 

 birds, congregating on the mimosas in company with U. cucullata." In the Lydenburo- 

 district of the Transyaal he states that this Swallow " appeared in fair numbers amongst 

 the mountains during the summer months, and yery probably bred amongst the 

 rocks." 



The following interesting note appears in Mrs. Monteiro's excellent little work on 

 Delagoa Bay : — " It was in the beginning of March, and the rain had poured in torrents 

 aU night, and continued the whole of the next day, the wind blowing a. perfect hurricane, 

 the thermometer suddenly dropping to 63°. About 11 a.m. a drenched miserable 

 Swallow flew into the house and perched himself on one of the partitions of the rooms ; 

 then one flew into the kitchen, and my boy caught it and brought it to me. I held 

 the poor mite in my hands for a little while, to warm him, and then let him fly up to his 

 companion in misfortune, by whose side he at once nestled down. In a few minutes 

 more began to come in, at first singly, then by twos and threes, some fluttering help- 

 lessly among the white window-curtains and beating themselyes against the glass. 

 These I caught and let fly up to their friends, and was surprised to find that they were 

 not in the least alarmed at being touched,' but seemed to like the warmth of the hand, 

 and would perch quite confidingly on my finger, and not attempt to move when I 

 stroked their little heads. 



"Many were brought me half dead by women and boys, who had picked them up 

 from the ground, and who all wanted a ' pen ' (thi-eepencc) for them ; but for answer I 

 only pointed to my fast-filling house, so they laughed and let me keep the birds, a\ hich 

 soon recoyered ui the dry room. One poor little thing I found suspended in a large 

 spider's web, and, although the wings of a Swallow seem so powerful, it was quite unal)ie 

 to exti'icate itself. They continued to come hi all day, and before 5 o'clock more than 

 a hundred had taken shelter, and the twittering and fuss that went on were most 

 amusing. When it began to grow dark they packed themselyes up for the night on the 

 partitions as close as they could possibly crowd together, two and three deep. ^lost of 

 them went to roost with their tails spread out, perhaps in order to dry them thorouglily, 

 and the round white spot on the tip of each feather bad a yery curious appearance wlien 

 tbey were all asleep and quiet. I fully exju'cted to find the botloiu ruw (Uacl IVoni 

 suffocation the next morning, but only three had fallen yictims, and these I iiuninliatcly 

 skinned. They stayed with me till about noon, one or two oeeasionally llyinn' out and 

 returning, apparently to report on the state of the weather, and tlu'u all leisurely took 

 their departure, no doubt very glad to see the sun again shining brightly. 1 felt quite 

 sorry when my little visitors d(>parted, but was glad they chose their countrywoman's 

 house in their time of need, lor they proved t(j he English Swallows." 



In the Newcastle district of 2satal Cohniel Butler and Capt. Savile lleid first 



