32 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The female resembles the male, but her plumage is not as 

 lustrous as his, and her tail is shorter. 



Martin, or House-Martix. — Upper parts steel blue, 

 except rump, which is white ; all the under surface is of 

 the latter colour ; the tail is but sliofhtly forked, and the 

 wings., when folded, reach almost to the end of it ; the legs 

 and feet are stronger than in the last species, and of a 

 paler grey ; the bill is black. The female resembles the 

 male, but her plumage is not so bright. Length, 5] inches; 

 expanse of wings, 12 inches. 



Sand-Martin. — Upper surface brownish grej^ the same 

 colour forming a band between the throat and breast, ex- 

 cept which all the under surface is white ; bill, legs, and 

 feet, black. Length, from tip of bill to end of tail, 4j 

 inches ; expanse of wings, which reach beyond tail, about 

 12 inches. The female exactlj'' resembles her mate. 



All these birds are migratory, and are supposed to 

 winter in Africa. They feed entirely on insects, which 

 they capture only when on the wing. 



They vary a good deal in their mode of nidification. 

 The swallow makes an open, cup-like nest, which it places 

 on a beam in a barn or other building, as well as in many 

 other convenient resting-places which afford a foundation 

 and covering for the structure, which is made of mud. 



The martin makes its mud nest under the eaves of a 

 house generally, but occasionally in caves by the sea-shore, 

 which are also sometimes frequented bj?^ the swallow. It is 

 rounded, and has an aperture at the top. 



The sand-martin excavates itself a dwelling in a sandy 

 cliff or bank, scooping out with its bill a tunnel three or 

 four feet in length, at the end of which it cuts out the 

 nesting chamber, which it lines with grass, hair, bits of 

 string, and similar materials, as do its congeners also. 



The eggs of the swallow are four or five in number, of a 



