EUROPEAN MARTESr 437 



but the wings and tail feathers are not molted until November. Of 

 the adult winter plumage, the Handbook says: "This plumage is 

 acquired by moult which commences in Europe in Aug. (exceptionally 

 July) with body-feathers, sometimes also wing-coverts and some 

 secondaries are moulted, but, usually wings and tail are not moulted 

 until winter. Body-plumage is moulted again Jan.-April but ma- 

 terial available is insufficient to decide if wings and tail are moulted 

 completely in autumn as they are in spring." 



Food. — According to Witherby's Handbook (1920) the food of the 

 martin consists of "insects taken on the wing, chiefly Diptera, espe- 

 cially the smaller species (Chironomidae, etc.), but also Coleoptera 

 {Tachypoi'tis^ Aphodius, Coccinella, etc.), occasionally Lepidoptera 

 (Pieris, Triphaena, Agrotis, etc.) and Neuroptera (Oldham)." 



Herbert Massey (1917) observed martins and swallows settling and 

 feeding on flowers, of which he says : "On the top of the knoll there 

 were tall plants of ragwort and thistle plainly to be seen standing 

 out against the sky; the birds were flying low over the plants and 

 sometimes hovering like a moth at the flowers, and now and again 

 Swallows and Martins would settle for a few seconds on the flat 

 heads of the ragwort and pick off the insects. On examining the 

 plants I found a quantity of little black flies." 



Behavior. — Macgillivray (1840) writes: 



The ease and rapidity of its flight, however marvellous, excite no astonish- 

 ment, as we are daily in the habit of witnessing them; but a true lover of 

 nature can nevertheless contemplate its airy windings for hours with delight. 

 The evolutions of this species resemble in all respects those of the Red-fronted 

 Swallow ; but its flight is perhaps somewhat less rapid, although it is certainly 

 very difficult to decide with accuracy in a comparison of this kind. Its sweeps 

 and curves however seem to me to be less bold, or rather less extended; but 

 its dexterity is equally remarkable. It mingles in its sportive-like pursuits 

 with both the other species, although each kind seems to give some preference 

 to the society of its own members. The influence of the weather on the flight 

 of insects causes it to observe the same selection of places as they; so that 

 in calm and cloudless days it flies more in the open air, in windy weather 

 more in the shelter of hedges and walls, and in damp evenings it skims over 

 the grass and corn. * • • 



Although the feet of this bird are very small, it can settle without difficulty 

 on a wall top, a roof, the branch of a tree, or on the ground, and is capable of 

 walking, although in an uneasy and rather ungraceful manner. 



Voice. — The same author says of the martin's voice : 



Its ordinary cry is a rather loud chirp, which it frequently emits, more espe- 

 cially when it flies in the vicinity of its nest. It has been called a twitter, but 

 the syllables which it most resembles are chir-rup. When flying over a field, or 

 under the shelter of trees, with its young, it has a softer and more pleasant 

 chirp, which is responded to by them ; and in calling to one to come up and receive 

 an insect, it utters a repetition of its notes, so as to produce a low chitter. Its 

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