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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



though sometimes we have counted ten in a troop. 

 The former is our favorite amongst Swallows; and 

 however much tastes may differ, we think it the 

 most elegant. Perhaps our partiality may arise 

 from the close attention we gave to its habits, and 

 from our having kept tame individuals, for a time, 

 in confinement. The nest is found in almost 

 every situation, for though its common name 

 would lead us to suppose it frequented chimneys, 

 such a habit is not characteristic of the bird; yet 

 it is the only species which, so far as we know, 

 inhabits chimneys. In a few instances we have 

 seen a pair issuing from a red chimney-can, where 

 their nest must have been built ; but it is proper 

 to mention that the chimneys were not in use. 

 They do not, however, always choose a safe place, 

 for they will sometimes mistake a sootless aperture 

 for one in disuse, and involve themselves in all 

 the horrors of a smoky house. The most curious 

 case that we can quote, occurred within our own 

 observation ; and was repeated annually for a 

 period of four or five years. Three pairs of 

 Swallows [H. rustica) built their nests in the 

 interior of the smoke-funnel of a kiln for drying 

 oats, and had, when we first discovered them, 

 each a brood of young ones. The kiln had been 

 once used when these birds were sitting on eggs, 

 without causing them to forsake their nests ; but 

 one morning, on going out of doors, there was a 

 sad spectacle awaiting us. The miller was at his 

 work drying oats, and the parent Swallows were 

 fluttering and screaming in great distress. The 

 smoke and heat did not deter them from venturing 

 inside, and we could not at first divine their object 

 in exposing their lives to jeopardy. It was soon 

 explained, however. The young were nearly 

 fledged, and by and by made their exit, but in 

 what manner we could not discover, as we had 

 for a short time left the spot. Towards evening 

 when the fire was put out, and the tenants of the 

 funnel quiet, we despatched a boy to the roof of 

 the building, and he reported that there were 

 three nests, all containing young. 



The Chimney Swallow occasionally remains 

 with us much later than its congeners. In 1847, 

 we saw several specimens on the 24th of Novem- 

 ber, and a solitary individual on December 15th, 

 flying close to the sand, on the lee-side of the high 

 wall by the sea-shore. It was observed again on 

 the following day, hawking over the same spot ; 

 but was apparently languid in its flight. The 

 weather at that time was mild, but had been cold 

 and boisterous for some days towards the end of 

 the previous month. 



We are disposed to look upon the Bank Swal- 

 low (iZ". riparia) as a solitary bird ; for, although 

 in some cases, where an extensive abrupt cliff may 

 afford room for a great number, and find tenants 

 too, yet the species is more frequently, we think, 

 found breeding in a colony of at most four or five 

 pairs. During our own direct observations, we 

 concluded that a solitary couple was oftenest seen, 

 but we should hardly venture to publish that 

 opinion against so much contrary testimony. In 

 the county of East Lothian we have never seen a 

 spot where more than thirty or forty were estab- 

 lished together, while, on the other hand, we could 

 lead doubtful ornithologists to the burrows of 

 almost a hundred single birds. The Sand Martin 

 is easily tamed when young, and will greedily take 



flies and other insects when offered to it. We 

 had two or three at various times, which were 

 great favorites ; having become quite familiar, and 

 accustomed to use their wings in a room in search 

 of prey. 



One interesting fact in connection with the 

 Martlet or Window Swallow (H. urbica) is its 

 habit of associating sometimes in large com- 

 munities in rocky cliffs near the sea : these 

 colonies far surpass in extent those of the Bank 

 Martin. At the Cove shore, in Berwickshire, 

 there were last summer from fifty to a hundred 

 families lodged in the face of a high cliff at the 

 time of our visit. We slung a few stones at the 

 most thickly populated quarter, and alarmed the 

 whole of the feathered tenantry, which issued 

 wildly from their resting-places ; forming a perfect 

 cloud of birds, and screaming incessantly till we 

 retired. Few of the nests were affixed to the 

 smooth parts of the rock ; the greater proportion 

 were lodged in the crevices aad inequalities, some 

 of them adhering to each other. 



The Swift (Cypselus apus.) 



Opportunities have been within our reach for 

 watching the proceedings of this bird while 

 nesting. In one case, a pair had taken possession 

 of a hole under the eaves of a slated roof, which a 

 couple of Sparrows had been accustomed to call 

 their own for many seasons. There was a con- 

 tinual warfare for the mastery ; and we have often 

 been amused at the impertinence of the male 

 Sparrow, in doggedly maintaining his ground 

 when the Swift attempted to get in. An unusual 

 clamor attracted our notice one evening, as the 

 Swift had forced a passage, and turned out his 

 opponent, who called to his aid an indignant mul- 

 titude of neighbor Sparrows to resent the affront. 

 One or two of the boldest entered the hole, while 

 their fellows kept up an encouraging chatter 

 outside. There was no doubt war in the interior ; 

 so we procured a ladder, being anxious to hear the 

 altercation ; and having reached the top spar, we 

 put our ear to the mouth of the crevice. It was 

 more capacious than we had imagined, for we 

 could hear nothing for a while but smothered 

 chirping; then the Swift made some wrathful 

 exclamation — " Hree-ee-ee, hree, hree !" which 

 broke out at intervals, prompted in all likelihood 

 by the impudent perseverance of the " Sprauchs;" 

 till at length one grand scream dissolved the inter- 

 view, and the Swift rushed out. For our eaves- 

 dropping we got what a rude spectator called a 

 " whang on the lug," which, however, caused us 

 more alarm than pain ; and we descended with 

 the intention in future to let " Develings " and 

 " Sprauchs" settle their own quarrels. We there- 

 fore looked up to them ever afterwards, and waited 

 for the result. Neither party were likely to give in, 

 for both pairs of birds regularly supplied materials 

 for the nest. It was curious to notice this. The 

 Sparrows brought paper, strings, wool, and 

 cotton, and the usual articles employed by the 

 species in building ; while the Swifts, with equal 

 diligence, gathered feathers and floating straws, 

 which we distinctly saw them seize when on the 

 wing, and carry to the hole. It turned out, how- 

 ever, a fatal mixture ; one of the Swifts was seen 

 in the gloaming soaring aloft, displaying a floating 

 pendant in one of the Sparrow's hempen lines, and 



