APPENDIX TO PREVIOUS VOLUMES. xv 



ing, sufficient, near the dwelling, to awaken the soundest 

 sleeper. His early vigils are scarcely exceeded by the 

 domestic cock : the industrious farmer hears the pleasing 

 call to labour, and associates with the favourite bird the idea 

 of an economical, cheerful, and useful guest. In the Middle 

 States, from the 15th to the 20th of April, the Martins begin 

 to prepare their nest, which is usually made of green or dry 

 leaves, straws, hay, and feathers, laid in considerable quan- 

 tities. The eggs, pure white, are from four to six, and 

 without spots. They rear two broods in the season. Several 

 pairs also dwell harmoniously in the same box. The male, 

 very attentive to his sitting mate, also takes part in the task 

 of incubation ; and his notes at this time have apparently 

 a peculiar and expressive tenderness. The food of the 

 Martin is usually the larger winged insects, as wasps, bees, 

 large beetles, as the common Cetonia or goldsmiths, which 

 are swallowed whole. His flight possesses all the swiftness, 

 ease, and grace of the tribe. Like the Swift, he glides along 

 as it were without exertion. Sometimes he is seen passing 

 through the crowded streets, eluding the passengers with 

 the rapidity of thought ; at others he sails among the clouds 

 at a dizzy height, like something almost ethereal." 



It is stated by Mr. Yarrell, in the second edition of his 

 valuable History of British Birds, that, according to infor- 

 mation received from Mr. Frederick M'Coy, of Dublin, a 

 female of this species had been shot near Kingstown, and 

 placed in the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society. He 

 further informs us that, " during the first week of September, 

 1842, two other examples of this same species were shot by 

 Mr. John Calvert, of Paddington, at the Kingsbury Reser- 

 voir ;" one of them a young bird of the year, the other an 

 old male. 



6. " Turdus aurigaster. Gold-vented Thrush." This 

 species, which appears to be now generally referred to the 

 genus Turdus, presents, in my opinion, a much greater 

 deviation from that group than Petrocincla. The differences 

 in its bill and feet, and its style of colouring, are, I think, 

 quite sufficient to sanction its removal to another group. 



The bill is considerably widened at the base, Avith the 



