MARTIN. 155 
The Martin rears two broods in the year, and sometimes 
lays a third or even a fourth time, though the last brood 
cannot be attended to before they themselves leave. White 
of Selborne says that they are never without young ones in 
the nest as late as Michaelmas; for as soon as one brood is 
able to fly, the hen bird begins to lay again, but the latter 
elutch is smaller in number than the former one. Those which 
are unfortunately unable to fly when the ‘moving power’ seizes 
their parents, are left behind, speedily to perish, as has re- 
peatedly been discovered. When only two broods are produced, 
the first nest is commenced about the 25th. of May, and the 
young leave the nest about the 2nd. of August. The second 
nest is begun about the 11th. of August, and the second 
brood quit it about the 29th. of September. 
The same nest is resorted to from year to year. Thus 
the Rev. Gilbert White says:—‘July 6th., 1783, some young 
Martins came out of the nest over the garden door. This 
nest was built in 1777, and has been used ever since.” The 
young birds of one year often add another the following to 
‘the row’ of nests which ornament the eaves where their parents 
have built, and sometimes the birds will form a continuous 
line of the mud they build with along the wall, without any 
apparent or discernible motive, for there it remains without 
any use being made of it. The mud they use in building is 
tempered and cemented in some way or other, for it will 
adhere firmly even to glass. 
The nest, which is generally built under the eaves of a 
house, but also frequently on the sides of cliffs, is of an 
hemispheric form, and is lined inside with a little hay and 
feathers. 
The eggs are four or five in number, smooth and white. 
Incubation lasts thirteen days. At first the parent birds enter 
the nest each time to feed the young ones, but by and b 
the latter may be seen anticipating their arrival by thrusting 
out their heads at the door of their house, in expectation of 
the meal which they there receive; the old bird holding on 
to the nest outside, in the attitude depicted in the plate. 
Male; length, a little over five inches anda quarter. Bill, 
short and black; iris, brown; head on the crown, neck on 
the back, and nape, glossy blue black; chin, throat, and 
breast, white; back, glossy blue black. The wings reach to 
the end of the tail; the first quill feather is the longest; 
greater and lesser wing coverts, glossy blue black; primaries, 
