378 hirundinidjE. 



the ground on the evening of the 14th of August, 1827, — which 

 was fine, after a day of excessive rain, — that in its pursuit, several 

 birds of both species were killed with walking-sticks and umbrel- 

 las in some of the streets of Belfast. In the year 1838, I was 

 informed by a bird-preserver in this town, that he had at different 

 times received not less than twenty swallows which had been 

 killed in the streets with walking-sticks or rudely -formed whips 

 used by mischievous boys. 



Song, 8fc. The swallow is one of the very earliest of British 

 birds in commencing its morning song. About midsummer, this is 

 begun occasionally between a quarter and half -past two o' clock. 

 It is also continued late in the season. On the 13th of Sept., 

 1833, I heard one, when perched beside its nest, sing in as fine 

 mellow tone as early in the summer ; and on the 2nd of Sept., 

 another year, several out of a number congregated on a house- 

 roof, were engaged going over their amorous notes. Two pass- 

 ing near me on the 10th of Sept., 1841, sang sweetly as they 

 flew in company with a number of others. The swallow's habit 

 of following birds of prey, &c, has been observed by every one ; — 

 but a particular instance will be found noticed under kestrel at 

 p. 59. I have often remarked (as Mr. Main has done,*) that 

 these birds, on returning from a pursuit of the kind, " unite in a 

 song [apparently] of gratulatory exultation." 



Nests-, Sjie. We read of the martin (H. urbica) being, of all 

 its tribe, the most partial to and dependent upon man, but from a 

 limited view only can such a conclusion be drawn. Tins bird, 

 though often claiming for its nest the protection of the same roof 

 that covers man himself, builds also against the wildest and most 

 stupendous precipices. On the other hand, I know not an in- 

 stance of the swallow selecting for its nest any place removed 

 from man's direct influence. The situations usually chosen in the 

 north of Ireland, are sheds, gateways, and outhouses of every kind, 

 the site once determined on, being generally occupied for a series 

 of years. All other nesting-places which have come under my 

 own observation, or of which I recollect to have read, were, with 



* Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. iv. pi 413. 



