white; wings and tail-quills dull black; chin, lower parts, and feathers on legs, 
white. Young birds sooty-brown above, little gloss, and not so pure white beneath. 
Length about 54 in. Tail in the young birds less forked. 
Tae Sanp Martin.—Adult, male: Upper part nearly uniform mouse colour, palest on 
the rump; wings and tail blackish-brown ; under parts white except a mouse- 
coloured pectoral band (this latter rather narrower in the female). Birds of 
the year have the feathers of the upper parts tipped with dull white, and under 
parts tinged with buff. Length about 43 in. 
III. Where, when, and in what Numbers found. 
All three species are common summer migrants to our shores, the Sand Martin usually 
arriving first about the end of March, shortly to be followed by the Swallow, and about ine 
same time by the House Martin, and retreating in the same order. The Swallow is 
generally distributed, decreasing in numbers as the North is approached, but visiting the 
Hebrides and even occasionally Orkney and the Shetlands. The House Martin also visits 
the latter Islands, but is unknown in the Hebrides. The Sand Martin is also widely diffused 
in suitable localities throughout the British Isles, but from its habits is somewhat ore local. 
IV. Food. 
All three species subsist entirely on insects, and render incalculable service by the 
enormous numbers of these pests which they destroy. 
V. Characteristics. 
The Swallows are characterised by their almost ceaseless flight, which is proverbially 
rapid and graceful, and is continued from early dawn till dusk. The two first-named species 
select as their home the neighbourhood of human dwellings, especially preferring those in 
the vicinity of water, and although from the nature of its nesting-site the Sand Martin is 
less the companion of man, this does not appear to arise from choice. Their nesting habits, 
which are interesting, will be briefly alluded to in Section VIT. 
VI. Protection. 
Wild Birds Protection Act of 1880.—These birds do not appear in the Schedule, 
but (1896) have been added to it in the following Counties :— 
Encianp:—Durham; Lancaster; Buckingham; Huntingdon (Swallows only); Leicest er; 
Lincoln (Kesteven and Lindsey); Stafford; West Suffolk; Worcester; Kent; Metro- 
politan Police District, including London and Middlesex ; Tsle of Wight; Wilts. 
Wates :-—Brecon. 
In these Counties any owner or occupier, or other person, taking, killing, ete., any of 
these birds during close season,* or possessing or selling one of them after 15th March, is 
liable to a penalty of £1 for each bird. 
Wild Birds Protection Act of 1894.—Thceir eggs are protected in the following 
Counties} :— 
* Generally from Ist March to 31st July; but in some counties from Ist February to 31st August in each 
year. A further period may be obtained through the Act of 1896. 
+ It is expected that other counties will before long obtain similar orders of protection under the Act 
of 1894. 
