378 
HIRUKDINIM. 
the ground on the evening of the 14th of August, 1827,— -which 
was fine, after a day of excessive rain, — that in its pursuit, several 
birds of both species were killed with walking-sticks and umbrel- 
las in some of the streets of Belfast. In the year 1838, I was 
informed by a bird-preserver in this town, that he had at different 
times received not less than twenty swallows which had been 
killed in the streets with walking-sticks or rudely-formed whips 
used by mischievous boys. 
Song , 8fc. The swallow is one of the very earliest of British 
birds in commencing its morning song. About midsummer, this is 
begun occasionally between a quarter and half-past two o'clock. 
It is also continued late in the season. On the 13th of Sept., 
1833, I heard one, when perched beside its nest, sing in as fine 
mellow tone as early in the summer ; and on the 2nd of Sept., 
another year, several out of a number congregated on a house- 
roof, were engaged going over their amorous notes. Two pass- 
ing near me on the 10th of Sept., 1841, sang sweetly as they 
flew in company with a number of others. The swallow's habit 
of following birds of prey, &e., has been observed by every one ; — 
but a particular instance will be found noticed under kestrel at 
p. 59. I have often remarked (as Mr. Main has done,*) that 
these birds, on returning from a pursuit of the kind, “ unite in a 
song [apparently] of gratulatory exultation." 
Nests, 8fc< We read of the martin (II. urbica) being, of all 
its tribe, the most partial to and dependent upon man, but from a 
limited view only can such a conclusion be drawn. This bird, 
though often claiming for its nest the protection of the same roof 
that covers man himself, builds also against the wildest and most 
stupendous precipices. On the other hand, I know not an in- 
stance of the swallow selecting for its nest any place removed 
from man's direct influence. The situations usually chosen in the 
north of Ireland, are sheds, gateways, and outhouses of every kind, 
the site once determined on, being generally occupied for a series 
of years. All other nesting-places which have come under my 
own observation, or of which I recollect to have read, were, with 
* Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol.-iv. p. 413. 
