Birds. 



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believing that this is really its first occurrence in our island. It very closely resembles 

 the C. europaeus, and is almost sure to be confounded with that species by the casual 

 observer. — John Hancock; Newcastle-on-Tyne, in ''Transactions of the Tyneside 

 Naturalists' Field Club,' Vol. v. p. 84. 



Nesting of the Chimney Swallow. — This pretty bird is, in my opinion, erroneously 

 called the chimney swallow, because it is by no means partial to that place as 

 a place for building in. Last year two pairs built their nests in my stable, and as 

 they are generally locked up the only mode of entrance was through a slit (a brick in 

 length and breadth) at one end of the building. One pair built a nest upon a rafter, 

 in shape and size about that of a basin. To render it secure the parent-birds made a 

 good foundation on the wood, and the clay or composition of which the nest was 

 built was continued down each side of the rafter, evidently with the intention of ren- 

 dering the nest perfectly secure. This pair succeeded in getting five young ones 

 away. The other pair built their nest at the other end of the stable, and they placed it, 

 by the side of a large rafter, the rafter forming one side of the nest, which was open at 

 the top. This pair laid two eggs and then deserted them. The end of the stable 

 where this nest was contained the firewood and coals, consequently the birds were fre- 

 quently disturbed, which may account for their desertion. In 1854 and two following 

 years, a pair built their nest in the bell-tower of the chapelry and school at Appleton-le- 

 Moors, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The nest was so situated that every time 

 the bell rang it swung within six inches of it. The bell was generally rung four 

 times a day, and frequently often er. In 1856 the nest was destroyed by a mechanic, 

 who had to go up to the bell, and the nest, which was kept for some time in my study, 

 had a very sickly smell; it smelled strong of some saline matter. During my stay in 

 the village, there never was another nest built there. Last year a pair began to build 

 a nest in a shed in our back-yard. The shed at the eaves was only four feet high, and, 

 being in constant use, they were too frequently disturbed to finish the nest, but 

 finally took possession of the chimney of an outhouse. On the north moors of York- 

 shire their nests are very common in the outhouse of the farms and in field-sheds. — 

 J. Ranson ; York, February , 1862. 



Migration of Swallows. — On the 2nd of November, 1861, I observed, towards sun- 

 set, more than a dozen martins alight on a neighbour's house, and enter, one by one, 

 a small hole under the eaves. On the following day, between four and five o'clock, I 

 saw twenty-two martins hawking flies before retiring to roost. They were first seen 

 at a considerable distance and elevation, but gradually descending and contracting 

 their circular sweeps as they approached their roosting quarters, and, apparently aware 

 that but few minutes of daylight remained, exerting their utmost powers of wing to 

 snap up every stray fly. Occasionally a few, detaching themselves from the main body, 

 dart off with a direct flight till lost in the distance ; but a little before 5 o'clock all had 

 reassembled and began to inspect their dormitory, creeping in at the narrow aperture 

 in an awkward, hurried manner, till satisfied that all was safe. Seeing them to roost 

 is a trial of patience, for after watching them in one by one — it may be for the twentieth 

 time — out they come again, as if scared by some vampyre inhabitant of their dark 

 retreat. The whole scene has then to be reenacted, but in a still more confused and 

 hurried manner. There was now a general scramble : some were to be seen clinging 

 round the opening ; others were endeavouring to fly in. A few relaxing their hold or 

 missing their footing were compelled to take another sweep to regain their lost position. 

 The thermometer had at the above hour fallen to 47°. The martins were occasionally 



VOL. XX. Q 



