SWALLOWS 107 



SAND MARTIN. Cotile riparia (Linnteus). PI. 17, 

 fig. 6. Length, 4-75 in. ; wing, 4 in. ; tarsus, 0*4 in. 



A summer migrant, generally making its appear- 

 ance in spring somewhat earlier than any other 

 Swallows, and departing earlier in autumn. Breeds 

 in colonies in sandpits and railway cuttings, where 

 the soil admits easily of excavation. As exceptional 

 nesting sites may be mentioned holes in walls 

 (Field, July 24, 1875; Zool, 1862, p. 7844, 1870, 

 p. 2344, and 1877, p. 450), sawdust heaps (Zool.y 

 1876, p. 5108), and a mound at the back of rifle- 

 butts [Zool., 1888, p. 279). For some remarks on 

 the treatment of Sand Martins in captivity, see 

 Butler, Zool, 1887, p. 347. 



Order IIL PICARI^' 



Fam. CYPSELID^. 



SWIFT. Cypselus apus (Linnaeus). PI. 17, figs. 7, 7a. 

 Length, 7 in. ; wing, 7 in. ; tarsus, 0'6 in. 



It is with some misgiving that, in deference to 

 the opinions of others, I adopt the modern location 

 of the Swifts in the order Picariw, removing them 

 from the Passeres, in which order they have been so 

 long associated with the Swallows. Prof. Garrod 

 more than twenty years ago (Zool., 1877, p. 217) 

 pointed out in what respect anatomically Swifts 



1 See Newton's " Dictionary of Birds," s.r. Picarice. 



