Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
128 INSECTIVORI. HIRUNDO. SwaLLow. 
In England, this species generally breeds in chimneys, 
whence arises its English specific name; sometimes in out- 
houses ; and where coal-pits abound, its habitation may fre- 
quently be seen fixed against the side of a deserted shaft.— 
The nest is open at the top, and formed of clay or mud, 
lined with feathers, and other soft materials. ‘The eggs are 
white, speckled with reddish-brown, and are four or five in 
number. ‘These birds begin to build soon after their arrival, 
and produce two broods in the year, one of which flies in 
June, and the second about the middle or latter part of Au- 
gust. ‘The young, after quitting the nest, are fed for some 
time on wing by the parent birds, which is effected with great 
celerity, and only to be seen by a very attentive observer. 
Previous to migration, Swallows collect in immense flocks, 
and may be seen thus upon house-tops, roofs of churches, or 
upon trees by the sides of rivers and ponds; which latter si- 
tuation is selected, not for the purpose of retiring into the wa- 
ter to hybernate, as occasionally asserted, but on account of 
the plentiful supply of food afforded by such situations. 
PiateE 42. Fig. 1. Natural size. ee 
Bill black. Forehead and throat deep orange-brown. Sides 
of the neck, back, wings, and pectoral band black, with 
blue reflections. ‘Tail deeply forked, the two outer fea- 
thers long and pointed ; a large white spot on the inner 
webs of all the feathers, except the two middle ones, 
which are entirely black. Belly and vent reddish-white, 
more or less tinged with reddish-brown. The female has 
rather less of the orange-brown on the forehead. The 
black is less brilliant, and the two outer tail-feathers are 
rather shorter than in the male bird. The young do 
not acquire the long tail-feathers, till after the first 
moult.—-White varieties are sometimes to be met with. 
A specimen, taken at Acton in Northumberland, is in 
my possession, which is of a pure white above, with the 
chin and under parts reddish-white. 
