230 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



9th.— Wind N.W. No Swallow ! 



10th. — Sharp rimy frost. Wind N.W. No Swallow ! 



For several days from this date I have visited the stream, but 

 the bird has not been seen since. Has it at last departed to a 

 summer clime ? I doubt it. In my opinion it has either fallen 

 a prey to some predacious bird while on the wing, or a prowling 

 cat has secured it from its roosting-place. 



On the 8th, when last seen, it was too vigorous on the wing, 

 and swept over the meadows so full of life and animation that I 

 cannot believe for a moment it died of starvation. I regret its 

 disappearance very much, as I feel almost confident, considering 

 the bird had safely weathered ten degrees of frost nearly three 

 weeks before, that it would have stayed on until spring, food 

 being plentiful. But this matter of food and other interesting 

 points I shall discuss later. 



I now pass on to last year (1906). Even more interesting 

 than the previous notes are the observations made during the 

 late autumn and winter of 1906-7. 



Up to the first week in November (1906) Swallows and House- 

 Martins were common, as is the usual thing here, although not 

 in great numbers, small parties of five or six — no doubt parents 

 and their late broods — being occasionally noted sitting on the 

 telegraph-wires, or skimming over the streams. 



I again follow my diary notes : — 



Nov. 11th. —Wind N.E. Three House- Martins seen. 



18th. — Wind N.W. Gale of wind and heavy rain. Five 

 Sivallows seen circling over the tops of elm trees, evidently on 

 the feed. 



25th. — Wind N.W. Three Swallows, two House-Martins, 

 and one Sand-Martin sweeping up and down stream in full 

 vigour. 



27th.— Wind W. Two Swallows skimming over the water 

 and fields. 



28th. — Wind N.W. Five Swallows sitting on telegraph-wires, 

 evidently a family party, occasionally flying off together in search 

 of food. 



29th. — Wind S.W. Weather very mild. One Swallow and 

 two Sand- Martins in full flight, hawking over the stream. The 

 two latter are evidently stragglers from some other locality 



