BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 63 
The latest date for a Swallow that I have found recorded 
is October 25th, 1896; * but Sir William Jardine speaking 
of the departure of the Swallows on September 20th, 1836, 
owing to the very inclement weather, remarked that this 
emigration was "a month earlier than usual."t Mr. R. 
Service states that m 1895 some Swallows stayed until 
October 16th, and that a few days later there was "cur- 
ling " at Wanlockhead.J In 1889 many Swallows went 
south on August 26th, the earliest date that I have seen 
recorded for their departure, the usual time being between 
September 24th-27th.§ 
Before their departure Swallows flock together, and often 
choose a reed-bed in which to roost. Sir William Jardine 
says this habit " has given rise to the idea that they retired 
durmg winter under water, for the departure of the great 
mass takes place simultaneously ; and the retreat which 
was one night enlivened by their evolutions and sprightly 
twitter, is the next solitary, or rendered to appearance more 
deserted, by the appearance of the few who have been unable 
to accompany the great body of the flight."|| Mr. R. 
Service tells me that in their autumnal emigration Swallows 
nearly always go in a direction a Httle east of south, but 
that m 1899 on September 22nd and 27th, and on October 
2nd, he observed them working west, a notable diversion. 
The confidence of this species at the nesting-season is 
perhaps the reason that endears it to all classes. "Two 
pairs of Swallows built their nest and hatched their young 
in the [ship] ' Alexander MaxweU ' at Glencaple, whilst the 
workmen were employed building her."T[ W. C. Hewitson 
describes a curious egg of this species which is of local 
mterest, thus : " The variety which I have drawn at 
Figure 4 (Plate Ixv.) was sent me by Mr. J. W. Johnston 
* Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1897, p. 144. 
t Hist. Berwick Nat. Club, Vol. I., p. 104. 
t Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1896, p. 98. 
§ Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasg., 1881, Vol. V., p 51 
II Nat. Lib., 1839, Vol. XI., p. 399. 
^ Dumfries Courier, July 28th, 1812. 
