SAND-MARTIN. 161 



SAND-MARTIN. 



Cotile riparia. 



This, the smallest of the British Hirundines, arrives, in most 

 years, a few clays earlier than the Swallow, making its appear- 

 ance near some river or pond. It is seldom seen far from 

 the water, except in the breeding- season, at which time 

 it resorts in considerable numbers to sand-pits, railway- 

 cuttings &c., in the perpendicular faces of which it digs out 

 nearly circular holes, that, unless interrupted by a stone, or 

 a stratum too hard to penetrate, it excavates to the depth of 

 about two feet, straight or crooked, according to the nature 

 of the soil, clinging, by the support of its tail, or sometimes 

 head downwards, and scratching out the earth with its feet : 

 at the further end of the hole it forms a neat nest, composed 

 of fine grass, lined with feathers, preferring those of the 

 Goose. It feeds its young on dragonflies and other insects. 

 Though generally silent, the male has at this time a soft 

 twittering song. Its flight is wavering and butterfly-like. 

 It usually avoids the neighbourhood of houses, but occa- 

 sionally makes use of the holes in masonry, called in Sussex 

 '^putlog" holes. It is rarely met with on the Chalk, or in 

 the district between the Downs and the sea. It is much in- 

 fested by fleas, which may often be seen in multitudes in and 

 around its holes. The Sparrows greatly persecute it, and 

 often possess themselves of its hard-earned abodes. It does 

 not congregate, like the other Hirundines, previous to its 

 departure, but all have left us by the end of September, 



M 



