THE HOUSE-MARTIN 263 



The bird never attempts to walk, remaining in one 

 place until it seeks the air again. Martins are very 

 fond of settling on roofs and telegraph-wires, espe- 

 cially in autumn, when the young birds are about 

 which are not capable of such prolonged exertion as 

 their parents. We have, at that season, seen wires 

 so densely crowded with Martins as to look like 

 huge cables at a distance, and perceptibly bent by 

 the weight of the clustering birds. The House- 

 Martin has little fear of man ; it is one of the most 

 trustful of birds, and not only builds its nest in very 

 much frequented places, but will flit and hover round 

 us in a most engaging manner. 



As we previously remarked the House- Martin 

 is not a very frequent singer. Its song is fitful, 

 uttered at unexpected moments, and far more 

 frequently whilst the bird is sitting on a building or 

 wire than that of the Swallow. The song is uttered 

 in a low tone, and is certainly sweet and varied, 

 but not quite so musical as that of the preceding 

 species. We should estimate that the song of this 

 Martin is heard at least ten times less frequently 

 than that of the Swallow ; and this latter bird is by 

 no means a frequent singer. We are at a loss to 

 account for this vocal tardiness ; it may be that 

 birds of the Swallow family work off most of their 

 vital energy in flight, and consequently express less 

 of it in song than other birds of more sedentary 

 habits, noted for their persistency of musical effort. 

 The Hous -Martin may be heard to warble at 



