THE SAND-MARTIN. 219 



ing tne entrance ; and the Wren, finding she could not force the 

 works, raised the siege, quitted her intentions, and left the Marting 

 in quiet possession of their dwelling. 



THE SAND-MARTIX. 



In the banks of rivers, and in the perpendicular sides of saud- 

 pits, these birds dig round and regular holes, 

 about two feet in depth, which run horizon- 

 tally, and in a somewhat serpentine direction. 

 At the further end of these burrows, the binls 

 construct their rude nest of grass and feathers. 

 ' Though one would at first be disinclined to 

 believe (says Mr. White) that this weak bird, 

 with her soft tender bill and claws, should ever the sandmartw. 



be able to bore the stubborn sand-bank with- 

 out entirely disabling herself; yet with these feeble instruments have 

 I seen a pair of them make great dispatch ; and could remark how 

 much they had scooped in a day, by the fresh sand which ran down 

 the bank, and which was of a diftei'ent color from what lay loose and 

 had been bleached in the sun. In what space of time the little artists 

 are able to mine and finish these cavities, I have never been able to 

 discover; but it would be a matter worthy of observation, where it 

 falls in the way of any naturalist to make such remarks. This I have 

 often taken notice of, that several holes of dift'erent depths are left, 

 unfinished at the end of the summer. To imagine that these begin- 

 nings were intentionally made, in order to be in the greater Ibrward- 

 ness for the ensuing spring, is allowing perhaps too much f )resight 

 to a sim|4e bird. May no»t the cause of their being left unfinished, 

 arise from the birds meeting, in those })laees, with strata too harsh, 

 hard, and solid, for their purpose; which they relinquish, and go to a 

 fresh S{>ot. where ihey can work more freely ? Or may they not in 

 other places fall in wiih a soil as much too loose and mouldering 

 liable to founder, and threatening to overwhelm them and their 

 labors? One thing is remarkable; that, after some years, the old 

 holes are forsaken, and new ones are bored ; perhaps because the 

 former habitations were become foul and fetid from long use, or be- 

 cause they so abounded with fleas as to become untenable." Sand 

 Martins are so strangely annoyed with fleas, that these vermin have 

 been sometimes seen swarming at the mouths of their holes, like 

 bees on the stools of their hives. 



The Sand Martin appears in this country about the same time aa 

 the Swallow, and lays from four to six white and semi-transparent 

 eggs. These birds seem not to be of very sociable disposition : with 

 us they never congregate in the autumn. They have a peculiar man- 

 ner of flying : they flirt about with odd jerks and vacillations, noi 

 *alike the motions of a Butterfly. 



