ricane. As the in-coming tide flowed over the banks, the wind swept the spray (caught from the top of the small waves) before it, over the shallower portion of the bay, presenting the appearance of a dense hail-shower, careering for miles along the surface of the sea. In the summer of 1840 again, swallows were remarkably scarce in the north of Ireland. This was attributed by an observant friend to the inclement summer of the previous year having been unfavourable to their breeding,-it was considered that there were fewer young birds in 1839 than he had ever before known. On making a tour through the west of Ireland in the summer of 1840, I remarked that the Hirundinida generally, were very few in number. Although the month of April in 1842, was so remarkably fine and warm, swallows were a fortnight later than usual making their appearance in the north of Ireland. It is remarkable too, that from the first day of their arrival about Belfast until the 14th of May, or during three weeks, there was no apparent increase to their numbers. On the two following days, however, a sudden increase in all directions took place, and without any particular change in weather or wind. In 1843, the first was seen here on the 6th of April; in 1844, on the 9th; and in 1845, on the 5th of that month. In the north, the common swallow has continued to be very scarce for a number of years to the summer of 1845 inclusive, appearing otherwise in a few choice localities only, or when congregated for migration. In 1846, an increase was apparent; in 1847, a still greater one, though in some localities not one was yet to be seen; in 1848, not only an extraordinary augmentation took place, but everywhere for several miles around Belfast, swallows were as numerous during the summer and autumn as I ever saw them at any period.

*

Food. Dr. Jenner states, that swallows on and for some time after their arrival, feed principally on gnats, but that their more favourite food, as well as that of the swift and martin, is a small beetle of the Scarabæus kind, which on dissection he "found in far greater abundance in their stomachs than any other insects." Two species of gnat, Culex pipiens and C. bifurcatus, are particu

* Phil. Trans., vol. cix. p. 24.

larised by Mr. Main* as their favourite food. Sir Humphry Davy † has "seen a single swallow take four [Mayflies] in less than a quarter of a minute that were descending to the water." Without having actually examined the contents of its stomach, I have so often observed the swallow in localities presenting very different species of insects, and sweeping in the summer evenings through the midst of little congregated parties of various kinds, as to be satisfied that its food differs very considerably; in singular corroboration of which, an angling friend once resident near the river Lagan, repeatedly captured these birds with artificial trout-flies, presenting very different appearances. Izaac Walton informs us, that swifts were in his time taken in Italy with the rod and line; and according to Washington Irving, one of the present sports of the Alhambra, is angling for swallows from its lofty towers.

My correspondent, Mr. Poole, has found the mouth of the young bird filled with Tipula. In the autumn some years since, Wm. Sinclaire, Esq., a most accurate ornithologist, remarked a number of swallows flying for a considerable time about two pollard willows (Salix fragilis) which served as gate-posts to a field at his residence near Belfast, and on going to the place ascertained that the object of pursuit was hive-bees, which being especially abundant beneath the branches, he had an opportunity of seeing the birds capture as they flew within two or three yards of his head. The insect prey of the swallow and martin kept so near

* Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. iv. p. 413.

Salmonia. Tales of the Alhambra, vol. i.

§ In the British Naturalist (vol. ii. p. 381) the sand-martin (H. riparia) is mentioned as preying on the common wasp. In an article in the Field Naturalist's Magazine (March, 1834, p. 125) on the Enemies of the Hive Bee,' an anonymous contributor states, that having observed some swallows seize upon his bees in passing the hives in his garden, he shot them, and on opening them carefully, found that although "they were literally crammed with drones, there was not a vestige of a working bee." Instances of the Hirundo rustica preying on bees have been very rarely recorded. In a paper read before the Lyceum of New York in 1824, De Witt Clinton, in his amiable admiration of the whole tribe of swallows, indignantly declared that "they are in all respects innocent, and the accusation of Virgil that they destroy bees, is known to be unfounded both in this country and in Europe." But from Wilson's American Ornithology (Jardine's ed. vol. ii. p. 153) we learn, that even in the United States bees constitute part of the ordinary food of the purple martin (Hirundo purpurea).

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 umbrellas 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, &c. 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 houseroof, were engaged going over their amorous notes. Two passing 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, &c., 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, &c. We read of the martin (H. 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 instance 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.

one exception, within the sphere of man's works.* In some parts of the county of Down, there was some years ago, and probably still is, a superstitious feeling against the destruction of swallows, when they build in cow-houses. The owners on such occasions were most particular in cautioning their children and others not to injure the birds, their eggs, or young, imagining that if they did so, some evil would befal the cattle; that they would give blood instead of milk, &c. Indeed, in the north of Ireland generally, the destruction of any of the swallow tribe is commonly considered an act of wanton cruelty. Their familiarity, and the trust which-like the robin-they repose in man, render them general favourites.

In the north of Ireland, I have never known the nest of the swallow to be built in chimneys, although on account of its predilection for building within them, the species has received the name of chimney-swallow in different languages.† White remarks in his Natural History of Selborne (letter 18), that "in general with us this Hirundo breeds in chimneys; and loves to haunt those stacks where there is a constant fire, no doubt for the sake of warmth. Not that it can subsist in the immediate shaft where there is a fire, but prefers one adjoining to that of the kitchen, and disregards the perpetual smoke of the funnel, as I have often observed with some degree of wonder." It is singular that in certain countries only, the Hirundo rustica should thus be partial to chimneys. That these are preferred for

* Mr. Hepburn states that he has "seen nests of this species on the rocks about Tantallon Castle, opposite the Bass."-Macgillivray's British Birds, vol. iii. p. 569. Sir Wm. Jardine mentions the H. urbica as building there, in his edition of Wilson's Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 320.

Chimneys are stated in general terms by White, Pennant, Bewick, Montagu, Selby, Yarrell, &c., (Montagu adds, that "it is not unusual to find the nest in outhouses, upon beams or rafters ") to be usually resorted to in England for this purpose. The sites preferred in Scotland, according to Sir Wm. Jardine and Mr. Macgillivray, are similar to those above stated to be selected in Ireland. What Mr. Hepburn says of East Lothian exactly applies to the north of Ireland. He remarks that the nest "is built under arches, gateways, eaves and water-spouts, against the beams, rafters and lintels of outhouses, and under wooden bridges."-Macgillivray's British Birds, vol. iii. p. 569. Detailed information on the subject of the sites selected by the swallow for its nest in Scotland, from the pen of Mr. Durham Weir, and agreeing with my own observation in Ireland, will be found in Audubon's Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 411, &c.

heat alone, I can hardly agree with White in believing.* In Sweden, it is called Ladu Swala, or barn swallow, from selecting the barn for its nest; in southern countries, as Italy, similar sites are preferred, as we have indeed learned from Virgil, and to the correctness of which, I can myself bear testimony. In the Morea likewise, within the town of Patras, I remarked in June, 1841, that they selected places similar to those chosen in the north of Ireland, their nests being built under the rude porticos in the streets.

One or two peculiar instances of the nidification of the swallow in the neighbourhood of Belfast may be mentioned. In the summers of 1831 and 1832, a pair of these birds built their nest in a house at Wolf-hill, although the door by which alone they could enter, was locked every evening, and not opened before six in the morning; being an early-rising species, they must consequently have thus lost for no inconsiderable part of the season fully three hours every day. A similar fact is mentioned. in Capt. Cook's Sketches in Spain (vol. ii. p. 275), where it is stated that "in the southern provinces they [swallows] sometimes live in the posadas, their nests being built on the rafters, where they are shut up every night." In the Northern Whig (a Belfast newspaper) of July 2nd, 1829, the following paragraph appeared : -"We understand that a pair of swallows have built their nest in Mr. Getty's school-room, at Randalstown; and notwithstanding there are above forty scholars daily attending, the birds fearlessly went on with their labour, and now have their young ones out. One of the windows had been for several nights left down, at

* A singular preference to chimneys, though not for the purpose of building in them, was noticed on the following occasions :

دو

On the 6th of August, 1845, a great number of swallows appeared flying to the top of a tall "stalk or chimney (perhaps eighty feet in height), isolated from other buildings, and rising from a green mound in the neighbourhood of Belfast. The day was close and warm, but the heat about the funnel (whence smoke issued) might have tempted some particular insects to the spot. There was a constant stream or line of birds ascending and descending: their flight had a most singular appearance, from the circumstance of their flying upwards from the ground to the chimney-top almost in a vertical line, and coming down in a similar manner. So regular were they in series, and so vertically disposed, as at once to remind me of a rope ladder up the mast of a ship; really not too extravagant a simile. On the 8th of September, a calm warm day, I observed numbers of swallows and house-martins flying in like manner, but not so vertically, to and from the top of a lofty chimney connected with a manufactory on the river-side at Dundalk.