S W A L L 0 W. 
HIRUNDO RUSTIC A. 
from north to 800^1^™”^ observed” Zlf Out” Hn ^ ka °"' 11 “ 
occasionally make their appearance in those barren islands as rt“’ ^ StragglerS must 
across the Minch, in the beginning of May ’ ““ “ “ “ t '™ % I* "*>» ** 
.. LTs “'/cz.’rrt t - •' *“ - 
after that date thm r yin Apnl, but although numbers are observed shortly 
that date, these birds continue crossing in small parties till the end of May. While notin- the 
arrival of birds of passage during several years, I remarked large quantities making their way to land on 
May m and •>* tbe ■* ** - ■* ** - ^ e — ::t:: 
h “Z tto Ch “ Ml “ large compact flocks: scores, or possibly even 
“nXtere LI b b‘ t T ^ ** ^ be ^ “ Smn11 ottered parties. 
Occasionally there might be a break m the stream of travellers, when only a single bird or two would flv 
ST b “ fV" “‘ erral ° f PerhaPS “ h ° Ur ” m ° re - freSh comers ™dd appear in view 
Though I have watched Swallows while making the passage of the Channel on many occasions I do not 
— fltrT T DUmb r ° n ™ S after mMd “ y - Single Wrds ™ d sma H parties may continue 
Ze b t Z rn °° n ; mai “ b0dieS apparently make an early start, shortly after daybreak, 
ome years back an unfortunate Swallow was transfixed on the point of the arrow forming the vane to the 
signal-pole on the centre pier at Shoreham Harbour. The bird, I conclude, must have been making its 
way to the shore during the night, and was probably attracted by the harbour-light, which stands at but a 
short distance inland from the signal-pole. 
All my observations concerning the arrival of the Swallow were made in the English Channel. From 
ie numbers constantly seen during favourable weather crossing straight from the French coast to our 
southern shores, I imagine that the short sea-passage is the favourite route, the remainder of the journey 
to the northern counties being probably made over land. It is, however, clear that a few, at all events, must 
pass over some portions of the North Sea, as in the spring of 1873 I received the wings of several Swallows 
that had struck against the light-sliips off the east coast. 
In the last week of April 1874 I watched for some time an immense concourse of Swallows collected 
together by the side of a pool of brackish water, just over the sea-beach near Shoreham. The wind was 
lowing in strong gusts from the west, with drifting rain; and the whole of the birds were sit-tin- 
facing the gale. Hundreds were closely packed on the ground at the water’s edge; but the greater 
