Birds of Britain 

 THE HOUSE-MARTIN 



Chelidon urbica (Linnseus) 



More local and less abundant than the preceding species, 

 from which it may always be distinguished by its white 

 rump and shorter tail, the House-Martin is nevertheless 

 sufficiently common to be familiar to every one. 



In habits, except for its method of nest-building, it closely 

 resembles the Swallow. It arrives about a week later, and 

 stragglers may sometimes be seen even as late as November^ 

 long after the bulk of their comrades have departed. These 

 stragglers are either family parties that have delayed their 

 departure till the young were ready to fly, or more often 

 inhabitants of the far north passing through on their long 

 journey to the tropics. 



iSTest-building is not commenced till the middle of May, 

 and by this time many of last year's nests, which they 

 would fain repair, are tenanted by that abominable pest — 

 the Sparrow. The nest is built entirely of mud, plastered 

 bit by bit against the side of some house which has over- 

 hanging eaves. No straw is used to bind it together, but it 

 is gradually built up to join the eaves till only a small hole 

 is left as a doorway. The lining is composed of fine grass 

 and many feathers, and the eggs, which rarely exceed four 

 in number, are pure white. At least two broods are reared 

 in the season, and then as the weather gets colder they 

 gradually collect near rivers, where their food, in the shape 

 of flies and gnats, is more abundant, till finally, after 



112 



