THE SWALLOW. 



{Hirundo rustica.) 



\_? EW birds have attracted more attention in 

 -■- all countries and in all ages than the 

 Swallows ; and the habits of those species which 

 annually visit the British Islands have been so 

 thoroughly investigated and so frequently de- 

 scribed, that little originality can be claimed for 

 the remarks which I have now to offer. 



There are two points, however, in the natural 

 history of these birds which do not appear to 

 have received from their biographers so much 

 attention as they deserve, viz., the nature of 



