( 267 ) 



OBSERVATIONS OF AN ATTEMPT OF THE SWALLOW 



TRIBE TO WINTER IN SOUTH HANTS DURING 



1906-7. 



By Harry Beeston. 



(Continued from p. 234.) 



Dec. 22nd to 24th. — Neither Swallow nor Martins seen. 



25th. — Cold N.W. wind. It is not often that birds of the 

 Swallow tribe are seen sporting about on Christmas Day in this 

 country, and the occurrence of such an event as two Sand-Mar- 

 tins on the wing on this date is almost unique ; but on the same 

 date in 1903 a House-Martin was observed hawking for flies 

 over a stream in this district, while on Dec. 30th of the same 

 year a House-Martin, possibly the same bird, was seen near the 

 same place. 



26th to 29th.— Weather very wintry. Wind N.W. On the 

 morning of the 27th snow lay several inches thick on the ground, 

 and cold frosty weather continued, with the thermometer down 

 to twenty-four degrees below freezing-point (eight degrees of 

 frost) on the morning of 29th. Evidently the Martins had 

 suffered severely, and were feeling the effects of the continued 

 cold, for on the 29th only one bird was to be seen on the wing, 

 and that appeared very weak, yet making a brave struggle to 

 keep on the wing and obtain food. It would be interesting to 

 know the fate of its companion. 



30th. — Change of wind and weather ; mild S.W. wind. Both 

 birds again observed, but beating up and down stream with 

 weary flight and apparent exhaustion. How long will the un- 

 equal contest last ? 



31st. — One bird only on the wing, but to-day it appears 

 stronger. 



1907. 



Jan. 1st to 7th. — Weather variable. Sharp frosts on nights 

 of 2nd and 3rd. Wind veered from S.W. (1st) to N.W. (7th). 

 The solitary bird has struggled on day after day, and now (7th) 



