168 BIRDS. 



at least two broods, and returns to its old quarters year 

 after year. 



So called from its habit of nesting in colonies in sand- 

 stone cliffs, the Sand-martin differs from the larger species 

 * Sand- in having a smaller patch of feathers on the 

 martin, legs and none on its feet. The back is much 

 lighter in hue than in the swallow or martin. Like the 

 rest, it feeds entirely on insects, in catching which it is 

 said to receive assistance from a thick secretion within the 

 mouth. Its nest, a careless mass of grass and feathers, 

 is placed at the widened end of a tunnel which the birds 

 excavate, claws and bill uniting in the work, to a depth 

 of a couple of feet in the face of some sandstone or other 

 cliff. The burrow slopes upwards, so that the overhead 

 drainage has no chance of damaging the eggs or young, 

 and is invariably swarming with small vermin. Eggs, 5 

 or 6, ^ inch; pure white. 



16. The Finches. 



[This large and important group of hard-billed birds has 

 several subdivisions (given more accurately on p. 11 6), the 

 chief being the Finches proper and the Buntings. The 

 former include, besides the common sparrow, a number of 

 favourite cage-birds. At the same time, it would be unfair 

 to weaken the case of a few more deserving birds of other 

 groups by denying that the greater number of them would 

 have some difficulty, during a part of the year at any 

 rate, in posing as friends of the farmer. Fifteen resi- 

 dents ; four regular, and ten irregular and rare, visitors.] 



The Greenfinch (extending its range in Scotland, but 



not in the isles) is known by the yellow stripe over the 



eye and the yellow on the wings and tail, 



the extremities of which are almost black. 



From its prevailing colour it is also known as the " Green 



