The House-Martin 



assembling like the Swallows in large flocks, they suddenly 

 take their departure. 



The whole of the upper parts, except the rump, which is 

 white, are glossy blue-black ; the under parts, including the 

 feathers on the feet, white. The tail is very slightly forked. 

 The sexes are alike in plumage. The young resemble their 

 parents, but lack the gloss and are consequently brownish. 

 They may also be recognised by having white tips to the 

 inner secondaries. Length 5 "3 in. ; wing 4*25 in. 



THE SAND-MARTIN 



Cotile riparia (Unnsus) 



This hardy little wanderer, the smallest and dullest of 

 the Swallow tribe, braves our climate ere the March winds 

 have ceased. At first he is generally found in the neighbour- 

 hood of water, but he gradually spreads over the country 

 and eventually assembles in the sand-pits or gravel banks, 

 where he makes his home. Though not attaching himself 

 to the dwellings of man, he is a sociable little bird and 

 breeds in colonies, which are in some places very large. 

 They nest in tunnels which they excavate for themselves 

 in the perpendicular face of a sand-pit. These tunnels are 

 straight and narrow with a slightly enlarged chamber at the 

 end. Their length varies from eighteen inches to three feet, 

 and the different passages occasionally meet and may be 

 used in common by two pairs. A slight lining of bents 

 and feathers are added, and the eggs, five in number, are 



113 15 



