134 NOTES ON BRITISH SWATJ.OWS. 



while on the other hand we could lead doubtful ornithologists to the burrows 

 of almost a hundred single birds. The Sand Martin is easily tamed when 

 young, and will greedily take flies and other insects when offered to it. We 

 had two or three at various times, which were great favorites, having become 

 quite familiar, and accustomed to use their wings in a room in search of prey. 



One interesting fact in connection with the Martlet or Window Swallow, 

 (^H. urhica,) is its habit of associating sometimes in large communities in 

 rocky cliffs near the sea: these colonies far surpass, in extent, those of the 

 Bank Martin. At the Cove shore, in Berwickshire, there were last summer 

 from fifty to a hundred families lodged in the face of a high cliff at the 

 time of our visit. We slung a few stones at the most thickly populated 

 quarter, and alarmed the whole of the feathered tenantry, which issued wildly 

 from their resting-places forming a perfect cloud of birds, and screaming 

 incessantly till we retired. Few of the nests were affixed to the smooth 

 parts of the rock; the greater proportion were lodged in the crevices and 

 inequalities, some of them adhering to each other. 



The Swift, (Ci/pselus apus.) 



Opportunities have boen within our reach for watching the proceedings of 

 this bird while nesting. In one case a pair had taken possession of a hole 

 under the eaves of a slated roof, which a couple of Sparrows had been 

 accustomed to call their own for many seasons. There was a continued war- 

 fare for the mastery ; and we have often been amused at the impertinence of 

 the male Sparrow, in doggedly maintaining his ground when the Swift 

 attempted to get in. An unusual clamour attracted our notice one evening, 

 as the Swift had forced a passage, and turned out his opponent, who called 

 to his aid an indignant multitude of neighbour Sparrows to resent the 

 affront. One or two of the boldest entered the hole while their fellows kept 

 up an encouraging chatter outside. There was no doubt war in the interior, 

 so we procured a ladder, being anxious to hear the altercation; and, having 

 reached the top spar, we put our ear to the mouth of the crevice. It was 

 more capacious than we had imagined, for we could hear nothing for a while 

 but smothered chirping; then the Swift made some wrathful exclamation — • 

 *Hree-ee-ee, hree, hree,' which broke out at intervals, prompted in all likelihood 

 by the impudent perseverance of the 'SSprauchs;" till at length one grand 

 scream dissolved the interview, and the Swift rushed out. For our caves- 

 dropping we got what a rude spectator called a 'whang on the lug,' which 

 however, caused us more alarm than pain; and we descended with the intention 

 in future to let "Develings" and "Sprauchs" settle their own quarrels; we 

 therefore looked up to them ever afterwards, and waited for the result. Neither 

 party were like to give in, for both pairs of birds regularly supplied materials for 

 the nest. It was curious to notice this; the Sparrows brought paper, strings, 

 wool, and cotton, and the usual articles employed by the species in building; 

 while the Swifts, with equal diligence, gathered feathers and floating straws, 

 which we distinctly saw them seize when on the wing and carry to the hole. 



