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THE SAND MAETIN. 



HIRUNDO RIPARIA. 



All the upper parts, cheeks, and a broad bar on the breast, mouse-colour • 

 throat, fore part of the neck, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white ; legs and 

 feet naked with the exception of a few small feathers near the insertion of the 

 hind toe ; tail forked, rather short. Length five inches. Eggs pure white. 



While all the other British species of Swallow resort 

 from choice to the haunts of man, the Sand or Bank 

 Martin is indifferent about the matter. Provided that it 

 can find a convenient place for excavating its nest, other 

 considerations are omitted. It is said to be partial to the 

 vicinity of water, but even this selection is rather to be 

 attributed to the accidental circumstance that perpendi- 

 cular cliffs often have rivers running at their base, than 

 to any decided preference shown by the bird for such 

 situations.. Railway cuttings carried through a sandy 

 district offer, perhaps, equal attraction ; and it is probable 



