BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 73 



with yellowish brown ; almost invariably a dark hair-like 

 streak at the large end. 



SAND MARTIN {Cotile riparia). 



April to September. Somewhat local, but occurring 

 abundantly enough in suitable places. 



Haunts. — Gravel and sand-pits, waste, broken land ; 

 partial to rivers. 



Observation. — Distinguish from Swallow and Martin 

 by prevailing mouse-brown upper plumage. 



Plumage. — Upper parts, cheeks, and band on breast 

 mouse-brown. Throat and under parts white. Wings 

 and tail blackish brown. Bill black. Legs dark 

 brown. Length 5 in. Female, similar with narrower 

 bar across breast. Young, upper parts tipped with 

 whitish buff ; under parts dingy white. 



Language. — Rather like the Martin, but sharper and 

 coarser in tone. Call-note, " sweer." 



Habits. — It feeds like the Swallow on the wing, but the 

 flight is far more vacillating. Although weak-billed, 

 it tunnels into the faces of sand and gravel-pits for the 

 purpose of nest site. Breeds in colonies and shuns 

 human habitations, unlike Swallow and House Martin. 



Food. — Insects. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — In gravel or sand pits, in railway cuttings, &c., 

 the tunnel being two or three feet long, terminated by 

 the nest cavity. 



Materials. — Dry grass, straw, and rootlets loosely 

 put together, with a lining of feathers. 



Eggs. — Four to six. White and slightly glossy. 



K 



