BIRDS OF THE GARDENS 19 



Upper parts, sides of neck, and belt across chest black 

 with purplish reflections ; under parts dull reddish 

 white. Tail long and forked. Bill and legs black. 

 Length 7 J in. Female, less chestnut on forehead and 

 less black on chest ; under parts whiter. Young, duller, 

 chestnut areas whiter. 



Language. — Song, pleasing, and rather reminiscent 

 of the Linnet's ; a twittering kind of warble, consisting 

 of one note like " le-wit," and another rather metallic 

 one. Call-note, " whit." Alarm-note, " whit-tit-tit-tit." 



Habits. — Flight graceful, gHding and doubling. It 

 seldom alights on the ground, on which it is very awk- 

 ward, and even drinks on the wing, skimming the surface 

 of the water for the purpose. It returns year after 

 year to the same nest. 



Food. — Insects, almost entirely captured on the wing. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — On top of rafter of purlin in an open shed, in 

 chimneys, under stone bridges, &c. 



Materials. — Mud pellets mixed with dry grass or hair ; 

 lined with fine grass and feathers. Nest saucer-shaped 

 and not hemispherical with hole for access as with the 

 House Martin. 



Eggs. — Four to six. White, spotted with rich red- 

 brown, and gre)dsh purple shell-markings. 



HOUSE MARTIN (Chelidon urbica). 



April to October. Generally distributed and common, 

 except in the extreme North. 



Haunts. — Country villages, farm-yards, &c. 



Observation. — Distinguish from Swallow by shorter and 

 less forked tail and white throat and rump. 



