MARTIN 537 
between them, the Martin’s white rump and lower parts being con- 
spicuous as it flies or clings to its “loved mansionry ” attached to 
our houses, for, as Shakespear wrote— 
**No jutty, frieze, 
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird 
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle.” 
Macbeth, Act i. se. 6. 
This nest, made of the same material as the Swallow’s, is, however, 
a far more difficult structure to rear, and a week or more is often 
occupied in laying its foundations—the builders clinging to the wall 
while depositing the mud of which it is composed. But, the base 
once securely fixed, the superstructure is often quickly added till 
the whole takes the shape of the half or quarter of a hemisphere, 
and a lining of soft feathers, mixed with a few bents or straws, fits 
it for its purpose. ‘The Martin sets about building very soon after 
its return, and a nest that has outlasted the winter’s storms is 
almost at once reoccupied; though if a new nest be needed its 
construction often involves great delay, for any excess of wet or 
drought retards the operation, and the work is often placed in such 
an exposed situation that heavy driving rains will wash away the 
half-dried walls. However, the bird mostly perseveres against 
these and other untowardnesses, contriving in the course of the 
summer to raise a second or even, though rarely, a third brood of 
offspring—but it is certain that the latest broods often die in the 
nest—apparently through failure of food. Yet examples of this 
species are observed in England every year so late as November, 
and there are several instances of their appearance within a few 
days of the winter solstice ; but it is to be remarked that these late 
birds are almost certainly strangers, and not natives of the locality 
in which they are seen.! 
The Sanp-Martin, Hirundo riparia of Linneus and Cotile riparia 
of modern writers, differs much in appearance and habits from the 
former. Its smaller size, mouse-coloured upper surface, and jerking 
flight ought to render it easily recognizable from the other British 
Hirundinidx ; but through carelessness it is seldom discriminated, 
and, being the first of the Family to return to its northern home, the 
“early Swallow” of newspaper-writers would seem to be nearly always 
of this species. Instead of using a clay-built nest like the House- 
Martin, this bird bores, with a degree of regularity and an amount 
1 This is inferred from their not shewing themselves until some time after 
the departure of the regular inhabitants. Prof. Giglioli has recorded the ap- 
pearance of C. cashmirensis in Italy (Avif. tal. p. 187), though Count T. Sal- 
vadori (Uccell: Ital. p. 81) has expressed his doubt as to the determination of 
the specimen. It behoves all ornithologists to examine very critically examples 
of Martins obtained in Europe late in the year. 
