WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN S. HANTS. 233 



where it rested yesterday in the expectation of finding its corpse, 

 but failed to do so. It has probably died on its perch, or fallen 

 into the stream, and, unable to recover itself, been carried away 

 and drowned. It would be interesting to know its fate. 



13th. — Cold west wind ; frost last night. The two Sand- 

 Martins still on the wing. 



14th. — Wind N.W. ; cold, raw, wintry day. Very hard frost 

 last night ; roads frozen and covered with ice. One Sand-Martin 

 only to-day, flying vigorously up and down stream, snapping up 

 the gnats from the surface as it skimmed along, with no evidence 

 of feebleness or discomfort. The weather is so wintry that the 

 Song-Thrushes, which have been in full song up to this week 

 (9th), are now silenced, being too busy seeking food to think of 

 singing ; yet this belated summer bird seems to quite disregard 

 the weather, and appears as strong and healthy as though it 

 were midsummer. 



15th. — Wind N.W. ; dull cold day. Both Martins present 

 to-day. I spent a couple of hours searching the beams, ledges, 

 and floors of several barns and stables, where I thought it 

 likely the Swallow, last seen on 11th inst., might have roosted 

 at night, in the hope of finding its dead body, and thus satisfy 

 myself that it had died a natural death (i. e. of cold and starva- 

 tion), but my search was in vain. Evidently one of the Martins 

 had yesterday made an excursion by itself away from its usual 

 feeding haunts. A Grey Wagtail and a Snipe seen feeding by 

 the stream to-day. 



17th. — Wind N.W. ; mild dull day. Birds still alive and 

 well, but to-day high in the air above the trees, outhouses, and 

 fields, yet never going far from the vicinity of the stream. 



18th. — Weather and wind as yesterday. Birds very strong 

 on the wing, and still circling high above the ground, and seem- 

 ingly quite vigorous, and in no hurry to depart to warmer climes. 

 The mild weather has once more incited the Song-Thrushes to 

 commence singing again. 



20th. — Wind changed to N.E. ; weather much colder. The 

 two birds still in evidence. 



21st. — Wind N.E. Cold, with hard frost again. To-day a 

 strange and curious thing has happened — the two Sand-Martins 

 have been joined by a Swallow, a poor, bedraggled, miserable-look- 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., June, 1907. T 



