The Swallows. 
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THE BIRD WORLD. 
TKe Swallows. 
By J. S. CRAWFORD, 
I think it safe to assert that we all 
know the Swallow, but, I would ask, 
“ Who knows the Swallow from the 
Swift, the House, or Sand Martins ” ? 
It is astonishing the amount of ignor¬ 
ance that prevails in regard to the dis¬ 
tinction between the Swallow and its 
pretty little sister the Martin, and even 
among our country cousins, as I remem¬ 
ber once pointing a rustic to a Martin 
and asking, “ What bird that was ? ” 
“Oh,” was the reply, “that’s a young 
Swallar! ” and evidently was greatly 
surprised at my seeming ignorance. 
It will, therefore be the author’s in¬ 
tention to deal separately with each 
member of this charming group, and to 
point out the difference between them, 
their habits, and how each may be 
identified. First, of course, we will 
deal with:— 
The Swallow (Hirundo rustica). 
Known locally also as the “ Barn 
Swallow ” and the “ Chimney Swallow,” 
although the bird seldom builds in 
chimneys—at least, not so often as in 
outhouses, barns, bridges, and shafts—- 
and thus it at once distinguishes itself 
from the Martin, who prefers to build 
under the eaves of houses; but it is no 
doubt owing to the fact that the Swallow 
and the Martin arrive with us at about 
the same time, and the difficulty oft- 
times of identifying the one from the 
other when in flight, that makes it diffi¬ 
cult for amateurs to recognise the 
Swallow from the Martin. 
As I have already stated, most of us 
know the Swallow, with his charming 
switch-back flight, as he skims grace¬ 
fully over the surface of the village 
pond, or skips across the dainty covered 
meadow, looking, as it often does, de¬ 
lightfully fresh after a short spring 
shower, now twisting this way, now 
that, this moment barely touching the 
fresh green sward, the next many feet 
in the air, performing his strange acro¬ 
batic flight, which only he knows how, 
and twittering all the while, perhaps 
rushing at break-neck speed towards 
where we are watching him, then spying 
us, with a few dexterous twists, turns 
and is off again, repeating the perform¬ 
ance throughout the still warm summer 
day. I hardly feel that it is summer 
till the Swallow returns from across the 
seas and I hear his merry little twitter¬ 
ing as he visits the site of his old home, 
seeming so very glad to get back and 
to find his old nesting-place has not 
been destroyed or occupied. He seems 
to me always to be so very good natured 
and happy, knowing no winter, and 
who’s life is one happy live long summer 
day. 
In India's Sunny Clime. 
The Swallow winters in India, and 
generally returns to us at from the be¬ 
ginning to the middle of April, reaching 
Scotland sometimes a fortnight later, 
although this year very nearly three 
Weeks later. I would here refer to the 
very strange appearings of the Swallow 
among us very early in the year, per¬ 
haps staying with us for a day or two, 
then suddenly and as mysteriously dis¬ 
appearing again as it appeared. There 
can be no doubt that many reports sent 
in to our many natural history periodi¬ 
cals are very much exaggerated, as 
correspondents of these journals often, I 
think, mistake some other bird towards 
nightfall for our feathered friend from 
across the seas. 
First Blood. 
It is a well-known fact that it is con¬ 
sidered quite an honour to draw first 
blood in the battle for who saw the 
first Swallow. Nevertheless, the fact 
that reports are received from many 
