CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 
399 
and the forsaken shafts of mines and coal pits, 
are all resorts during the season of incubation, 
so that in a natural state, or rather in a country 
wanting these structures, its breeding places may 
be supposed to be the rents in rocks, and caves 
or fissures. Two or three pairs often frequent 
the same out-house, and are known to have re- 
turned from year to year to the same nest. They 
hunt in small parties ; as the time of their depar- 
ture arrives, the young are collected together, and 
many of those in the vicinity assemble ; at times 
during the day they may be seen congregated on 
the roof of some building, on a wall or railing, or 
on some bare tree, pluming themselves, and resting 
from the incessant activity, and hunting after food, 
which characterizes them in the previous part of 
the year. At this time, they also roost together, 
and select for this place willow beds, or brush- 
wood fringing some lake or stream, occasionally 
among the tall reeds, and this has given rise to 
the idea that they retired during winter under 
water, for the departure of the great mass takes 
place simultaneously ; and the retreat which was 
one night enlivened by their evolutions and 
sprightly twitter, is the next solitary, or rendered 
to appearance more deserted, by the appearance of 
the few who have been unable to accompany the 
great body of the flight. 
In distribution, this species decreases north- 
ward, but is abundant in central and southern 
Europe. How far it extends into Asia has not 
been traced, or whether it is partially migratory 
