WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW. 583 



'' 3J. Martins worked very little all day ; sometimes in frolic 

 they alight on their neighbours'' nests, without doing them any 

 damage. Cloudy. Wind N.W. Therm. 53°. 



" 4th. No Martins seen to-day. Rain. Cloudy and cold. 

 Wind N.W. Therm. 47°. 



" 5th. A most delightful morning. Martins built briskly 

 till 9 A.M., when a thick mist accompanied with rain and a 

 cold wind caused them to retire till 5 p.m., when the sky again 

 became bright, and they worked for an hour, then sat on the 

 nest for some time, but soon flew off, returned at half-past six 

 o'clock, when side by side they squatted in the shell, where 

 they remained all night. The wind was piercing cold, and 

 contrary to their usual practice, not a twitter was emitted. 

 Wind. E. Therm. 45°. 



" 6th. Cold and cloudy till 5 p.m. Only one pair returned as 

 usual, the other has not been seen for two days. The former 

 built for an hour, then disappeared. The sides of the nest 

 now begin to slope inwards. When they deposite the mate- 

 rials, they place the point of their bill on the outside, then draw 

 it inwards with the usual vibratory or wriggling motion. Cold 

 and cloudy. Wind E. Therm. 45°. 



" 7th. The pond was covered with ice this morning. Martins 

 did not build till it was thawed. Although the lower half of 

 the nest is scarcely finished, yet are they rapidly building up the 

 part nearest to the rivets. The walls and the corners are nicely 

 rounded off, thus giving additional security to the whole fabric. 

 In finishing off the top of the wall, sometimes the bird will cling 

 to the outside, and at other times will most materially support 

 itself in the inside by using both the wings and tail as sup- 

 ports. When their bill comes in contact with the old and 

 dried materials, a harsh rustling sound is produced. When 

 busy, they carry materials to the nest about once in a minute 

 and a half Very busy all day. Both remained all night. 

 Sunny. Wind E. and W. Therm. 56^. 



" 8th. Martins worked very constantly, still following out 

 the same plan of building, very little mud being deposited near 

 the window. Both sat all night. Bright sunshine. Wind W. 

 Therm. 58°. 



