Early on the morning of the 28th, a swallow (_Hirundo rustica_, Linn.) was seen flying about the ship; and, having entered one of the stern cabin windows, was readily taken. It appeared quite exhausted, and made no efforts to escape, until, having been confined for a short period of time in one of the cabins, it flew out again on the door being opened, but was soon recaptured. It is probably the straggler of a flock migrating to the northward, as they are usually considered to arrive in England in April or May, earlier or later, according to the mildness of the season. This bird may be considered to be detained on its passage by easterly winds, similarly to ourselves. It was in an excellent plump condition, although now, no doubt, tired and hungry. The little traveller is preserved alive, and permitted to fly about one of the cabins. It became in a short time after its capture, very tame, perching on the head of the person in whose cabin it had taken refuge, eating food also from the mouth. The following morning, however, it flew away. In the evening several of the common swallow, (_Hirundo rustica_, Linn.) and also, from a specimen which I caught and examined, the martin (_Hirundo urbica_, Linn.) were flying about the ship, occasionally seeking refuge in the cuddy: they appeared strong on the wing, in excellent plumage, and plump condition. They no doubt formed part of a flock migrating to the British shores, where the latter are said to arrive about the 16th of April; but the computation of the time of their arrival cannot be mentioned with any degree of certainty. Now their passage has probably been retarded by the long prevalence of easterly winds; and the cold, rainy weather, may have caused the little emigrants to seek refuge on board the ship. From calculation at noon, we were in north latitude 50° 14′; north and west longitude 12° 40′. The swallow is found an inhabitant of the tropical regions of the globe, visits the northern climates during the warm months of the year, and is regarded as the harbinger of summer; emigrating, however, with its young, to a more congenial climate on the approach of winter. It is then that they are met with at sea, perching, in an exhausted condition, on the rigging and decks of ships. Being interrupted by adverse winds, they waver in their course, spent with famine and fatigue, until the ship affords them a temporary resting-place; from which, refreshed by a few hours’ rest, they renew their flight. They are said to arrive in Africa about the commencement of October, having performed their fatiguing journey in the space of seven days. During a passage from England to New South Wales, on the 27th of September, 1828, several of these birds alighted in an exhausted condition on the rigging and deck of the ship, and were readily captured. We were at that time in latitude 13° 40′ north, and longitude 23° 20′ west. They were the _Hirundo rustica_ of Linnæus.