HOUSE AND SAND MARTINS 65 



Voice. — A harsh chatter, but when kept as a pet readily learns to 

 repeat words. 



Chief Features. — Black and white plumage, long tail, and jerky, 

 undulating flight are salient features. Very locally distributed. 



Plumage. — Velvet-black is the predominating colour, this being 

 present on the head, throat, neck, and back ; white on scapulars 

 and under plumage; the tail is graduated, and, similar to the 

 wings, black, with lustrous blue, green, and copper reflections; 

 black beak and feet. Length. — Eighteen inches. 



MARTIN, HOUSE (Chelidon urbica) 



Local Names. — Eave Swallow, House Swallow, Martin Swallow, 

 Martinet, Martlet, Meadow Martin, White-Rumped Swallow, 

 Window Martin, Window Swallow. 



Haunt. — The spacious air, houses, outbuildings, 

 etc. 



Nesting Period. — May to September. 



Site of Nest. — Under the eaves of a house or 

 other building, also on the face of rocks and 

 cliffs. 



Materials Used. — Clay and mud, cemented to- 

 gether with hair and fibres, lined with hay, 

 straw, and feathers. Cup-shaped. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. White; more oval than 

 those of Sand Martin. 



Food. — Insects . 



Voice. — A pleasant alarm-note or call, and a pretty 



warble when the bird is on or near the nest. Fig. 21. House Martin. 



Chief Features. — Distinguished from the Swallow 



by the white rump and more catapult-forked tail, and from the 

 Sand Martin by larger size and blue-black head and back. An 

 entirely beneficial bird. A Summer Migrant, arriving from its 

 foreign Winter quarters about April 20. 



Plumage. — Blue-black head, nape, and upper part of back; lower 

 parts of back and underneath pure white. Downy feathers 

 cover the feet and toes. Length. — Five and a half inches. 



MARTIN, SAND (Cottle riparia) 



Local Names. — Bank Martin, Bank Swallow, Bitter, Land Swallow, 

 Pit Martin, River Swallow, Sand Swallow, Shore Bird, Witchuck. 

 Haunt. — Sandpits, river banks, cliff-sides, etc. 

 Nesting Period. — May to July. 

 Site of Nest. — The face of a sand-pit, cliff-side, or river bank. 



