NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
137 
tions, singing and chattering quite unconcernedly. Even a lamp in the hall in 
the evenings did not frighten them. When the nest was completed, and the hen 
sitting, the little cock bird would sit beside her on a cord attached to the skylight. 
As far as we could judge no young birds were hatched. When the time came for 
migrating the swallows left. 
One day this spring we noticed a solitary swallow flying about, apparently 
the first to arrive. Judge of our surprise the next morning to see a little hen 
swallow sitting on the nest in the hall, which had been left there during the 
winter. A strange bird could scarcely have found its way in and gone direct to 
the nest. Is not this a proof that swallows continue to use their old nests instead 
of building new ones ? A few days later she was joined by another, and now they 
are very busy nesting. 
Arlington Court, Barnstaple. Rosalie Chichester. 
June 10, 1902. 
Our Latest Songsters. — As I have for several years enjoyed peculiar 
advantages for studying this question, perhaps my experience may be of interest 
to E. Coxwell. Those of your readers who have replied to the letter which 
appeared in the April number have overlooked the fact that to record the times 
for an odd date here and there is not sufficient. Observations and records 
should cover an extended period, and then, by taking the average, one is enabled 
to say which is really entitled to the position of “ earliest risen.” In September, 
1901, I gave in a local paper, The Worksop Guardian, the results of a series 
of observations which extended over a number of years, and the order in which 
I placed the birds is, with a few exceptions, similar to the order in which they 
are placed by A. C. Mackie in the May number. I note he includes the cock. 
This I have never done. A cock will crow at any hour if disturbed, therefore 
the time at which it crowed on any particular date is of no value whatever in 
helping to decide this question. 
I append a series of extracts from my note book and from the article men- 
tioned above, and if they are likely to be of any service to E. Coxwell I shall 
be pleased if you will use them. 
Times at which Certain Birds commence Singing. 
1894. 
August 24. — Robin, 4 a.m., was first bird heard. 
1895. 
Feb. 26. — Yellow bunting and blackbird 6.30, hedge-sparrow 6.45, chaffinch 
6.55. 
,, 27. — Chaffinch 6.45, hedge-sparrow 6.57, blue tit 7, kestrel 7. 1 1. Morn- 
ing cold, clear. 
March i. — Hedge sparrow 6.55, blue tit 6.55, chaffinch 6.57, great tit 7.5. 
,, 2. — Blackbird 6.29, robin 6.33, hedge sparrow 6.30, chaffinch and great 
tit 7. 
,> 18. — Blackbird, robin, hedge sparrow and starling 5.30. Morning frosty, 
clear. 
,, 22. — Robin 5.30, chaffinch 5.45. Wind W., fair, warm. 
,, 26. — Hedge sparrow 5.30, yellow bunting 6.45. Cloudy. 
,, 27. — Fieldfare 5.45, morning dull. 
April 9. — Robin, thrush and blackbird singing till 7.45 p.m. 
May 23. — Landrail heard all night. Robin 2.30 a.m., redstart and thrush 2.30 
a.m. Wind S.W. , clear and warm. 
,, 24. — Thrush and skylark 2.40, great tit, blue tit, cuckoo, chaffinch, 
hedge sparrow, willow wren 3.15. Landrail not heard once 
during the whole night. Wind S.E., cold, clear. 
,, 25. — Landrail 1.25 a.m. 
1899 - 
March 30. — Lark 4.20, thrush 4.30, blackbird 4.40, rook 4.50, robin 4.55, 
chaffinch 5.15, yellow bunting 5. 15, hedge sparrow' 5.30. Bright 
morning, windy. 
,j 31- — Lark 4.55, blackbird 5, thrush 5.5, hedge sparrow 5.30. Dull, wet 
morning. 
April I. — Lark 4.50, blackbird 4.55, thrush 4.55, robin 5, hedge sparrow 5.20. 
Cloudy, fair, warm. 
