143 
only during their migrations, but also 
during the breeding season. They are very 
numerous in some parts of the Russian 
empire, particularly about the rivers Don 
and Wolga, the banks of which are in 
some places so perforated by these birds 
for the purpose of incubation, that they 
appear at a little distance like honey- 
comb. They are also found in vast num- 
bers about the ridges of the mountains in 
the island of Candia, where the abund- 
ance of thyme affords rich pasture to the 
bees and wasps. They are also found in 
most of the islands in the Mediterranean, 
in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and 
sometimes in Sweden. 
In the island of Candia the boys (taking 
advantage of the bird's partiality for in- 
sects, which it always, like the Swallow, 
catches upon wing,) pass a bent pin or 
small hook through the body of a living 
bee or wasp, to which is fastened a long 
piece of thread, the insect flies into the 
air, and the unwary bird strikes at the 
insect and is caught by the hook. It, 
is curious to observe that Aldrovandus 
mentions the same practice to have pre* 
