158 SAND MARTIN. | 
even so far north as Carlisle, as Mr. Heysham has recorded, 
before the end of March. In Cumberland it has been observed 
on the 4th. and the 11th. of April. In the Orkney Islands 
it arrives in May. In the month of August it departs. 
In favourite situations, the holes that these birds have bored 
may be seen in great numbers, and close to each other. Two 
broods in the year are sometimes reared, the first being able 
to forage for themselves in about a fortnight; and when the 
first batch of young have left the nest, they He in numbers 
in such places as osier beds in small islands, on the banks 
of rivers, and other suitable resting-places. The second brood 
is not unfirequently forsaken by its parents, who find the call, 
‘away, away, too strong to be ‘resisted, fal even natural ae 
tion gives way to its all- -powerful command. Both parents 
feed the young as long as is necessary: they all return at 
night to sleep in the nest. They are sociable birds, as 
evinced by the great number of their tenements that are to 
be seen in the immediate vicinity of each other. In some 
instances, however, single pairs have been known to build by 
themselves, and in others only small numbers. 
Their flight is rapid, flickering, and unsteady. When 
searching for food, they may be seen skimming low over 
meadows and commons; and, like the other Swallows, they 
often drop upon the water as they fly, to drink, or to lave 
themselves. 
The food of this species consists, like that of the rest of 
their genus, of insects, and these are frequently dashed at on 
the water. The young are fed with the same, sometimes of 
large size. 
The nest of the Sand Martin, as intended by its name, is 
placed in the straight banks of rivers, cliffs of the sea- shane 
sand-pits, and such other lke situations as are sufficiently 
soft for the bird to perforate—not always at a high elevation 
—J have known them almost within reach of the hand from 
the beach. It hollows out for itself a way to its intended 
resting-place to the depth of from two to three, and even 
nearly four feet. The work is performed with its bill, which 
it keeps closed for the operation, swaying itself round as 
occasion requires on its feet as a pivot. It begins at the 
centre and works outwards, and hence the former is more 
deeply penetrated than the latter. The gallery, which tends 
upwards, is more or less tortuous; the entrance is from two 
to two inches and a half wide, and is widest at the inner 
