218 



BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



of the Sparrows. At the time of revising this 

 work (1906) the Martins have never come back 

 to the above- 

 mentioned 

 favourite 

 haunt, and 

 there is every 

 reason for be- 

 lieving that 

 the species is 

 decreasing all 



HOUSE MARTIN ENTERING NEST. 



over the coun- 

 try. General 

 over the British 

 Isles. 



Materials. 

 Clay or mud 

 made into pel- 

 lets and cement- 

 ed together until 

 they form a kind 

 of shell like the 

 half of a deep 

 basin, fixed close 

 up under an 

 eave or project- 



| obiect With 



an elliptical hole at the top, and generally on one side. 

 It is lined with bits of straw, hay, and feathers. 



