146 
HIRUNDINID^. 
flight, they perform it in a listless manner, and very soon return 
to their former station. 
The Swallow is seldom or never noticed by the inhabitants 
as distinct from other birds when upon the wing ; and seen 
close at hand, it is regarded as something marvellously rare. 
A few years ago a poor crippled man caught one alive, and in 
a state of the greatest delight brought his prize — '' something 
foreign,” he termed it — to one who, after undeceiving him, 
presented him with a trifle, out of pity for his evident extreme 
disaj)pointment. The cause of the latter was afterwards ex- 
plained to me by the man himself He had scarcely tasted 
food for several days, and, almost hopeless of being able to 
live through the next few hours, opened his door with the 
intention of w^andering away, he knew not whither. Hardly 
had he done so when the Swallow entered. Managing to 
catch it, he hurried off to find the expected purchaser, the 
result being as above related. doot, I shall many a time 
be hungry again,” said the poor fellow, concluding his little 
story; “but after this, folk needna tell me that the Lord 
doesna answer the prayer o’ a poor man.” 
THE MAETIH. 
Hirundo urbica. 
With regard to this species, much the same may be said as 
of the Swallow ; instances of its nesting in Shetland, though 
few in number, being well authenticated. Miss Mouat writes 
me word that it has twice built at Gardie, and that every year 
some may be observed about the same spot. It is by no 
means improbable that the piercing north-east winds which pre- 
vail during the month of May, and even until early in June, are 
among the causes which deter Swallows and Martins from 
breeding regularly in these islands. 
In the autumn of 1863, so late as October 26th, standing 
upon the high cEff called “The Keene,” about noon, I was much 
pleased to see a Martin, skimming after the flies which were 
