384 
HIRUNDINID/E. 
even in windy weather, which the other species seem much to 
dislike ; nay, even frequenting exposed seaport towns, and making 
little excursions over the salt water. The excursions " of the 
swallow over Belfast bay are of daily occurrence throughout 
summer. It may be chiefly observed attendant on the in-coming 
tide, where we may presume its food is most abundant, owing 
probably to the insects being driven off the beach by the 
encroaching waters. I remarked during the summer of 1838, that 
swallows course as regularly over the masses of Zostera marina 
with which the beach is covered on the western shore of Belfast 
bay, as they do over any meadows. On the evening of the 2nd 
of August, they were perched in great numbers on stakes which 
rise above the sea, and were likewise busily feeding over the sur- 
face of the tide, on the insects roused probably by its flowing over 
the Zostera. The stakes alluded to are just such as, — were they 
more remote from a public road, — cormorants would alight on to 
expand and dry their outstretched wings. August \tli. — Heavy 
rain to-day till about 2 o'clock, when it cleared up, I then 
walked out and the tide being full, remarked the tops of a number 
of the large stones near Holywood, to be covered with H. rustica 
(such as I saw distinctly, wanted the long tail-feathers). They 
all sat with their heads in the same direction, like flocks of Gral- 
latores awaiting the falling of the tide. There were perhaps 
tw r enty on the largest stone. During the following summer, I 
remarked the swallows' daily flight above the waves of the sea, to 
be as regular as anywhere on land. When on different occasions, 
in the month of June, on the low mass of rock called the Mew 
Island (the smallest of the three Copeland Islands, off the coast of 
Down), this species, and it alone of the Hirundinidee , always 
appeared ; thus proving a propensity to range, as there is not a 
spot on the islet that would afford accommodation for its nest. 
Flying late , 8fc. Mr. White (of Selborne) remarks of the swift, 
that “ in the longest days it does not withdraw to rest till a 
quarter before nine in the evening, being the latest of all day 
birds." In the general terms in which this was meant ta be 
understood, it agrees with my observation ; but I have occasionally 
