CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 1 55 



similar to that of the Swallow, The eggs — four to 

 five in number, are pure white ; two to three 

 broods are reared. This species, if the autumn be 

 fine and there is no sign of early winter, often 

 remains behind beyond the prescribed time for its- 

 departure, which is usually about the middle of 

 October. 



"It breeds throughout Europe as far up as 70*^ N. 

 in Scandinavia, and is found during the breeding- 

 season in North Western India, Turkestan, Persia, 

 Palestine, and Asia Minor. It also breeds abundantly 

 in North Africa, visits the Canaries and Madeira, 

 and probably winters in Central Africa " (H.S.). 



The specimens in the case were shot in Surrey. 



The Sand-Martin. 

 Ordei% Passeres. Family, Hirundinidce. 

 This, the smallest British member of the family is 

 also one of the earliest of the migrants, often arriving 

 towards the end of March. It is fairly well dif- 

 fused over our islands, though distribution is partial 

 and only in those localities which favour its breeding- 

 habits, which are totally unlike those of the two 

 preceding species. Being averse from human habi- 

 tations and the sociability of man, it seems to 

 preserve its wild nature, preferring to build in lonely 

 spots — such as the banks of gravel-pits or sand-banks, 

 cliffs on the banks of rivers or lakes, sea cliffs, etc., ; 

 the nest is, however, very interesting. These birds 

 breed in colonies together, and proceed by boring a 



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