4i8 OBSERVATIONS ON 



verge of the down above the hermitage under a beechen 

 shrub, on the naked ground. Last year those eggs were 

 full of young, and just ready to be hatched. 



These circumstances point out the exact time when 

 these curious nocturnal migratory birds lay their eggs and 

 hatch their young. Fern-owls, like snipes, stone curlews, 

 and some other birds, make no nest. Birds that build on 

 the ground do not make much of nests. 



SAND MARTINS 



March 23, 1788. A gentleman who was this week on 

 a visit at Waverley, took the opportunity of examining 

 some of the holes in the sand banks with which that 

 district abounds. As these are undoubtedly bored by 

 bank martins, and are the places where they avowedly 

 breed, he was in hopes they might have slept there also, 

 and that he might have surprised them just as they were 

 awaking from their winter slumbers. When he had dug 

 for some time, he found the holes were horizontal and 

 serpentine, as I had observed before : and that the nests 

 were deposited at the inner end, and had been occupied 

 by broods in former summers, but no torpid birds were to 

 be found. He opened and examined about a dozen holes. 

 Another gentleman made the same search many years ago, 

 with as little success. 



These holes were in depth about two feet. 



March 21, 1790. A single bank or sand martin was 

 seen hovering and playing round the sand pit at Short 

 Heath, where in the summer they abound. 



April 9, 1793. A sober hind assures us, that this 

 day, on Wish-hanger common between Hedleigh and 

 Frinsham, he saw several bank-martins playing in and 

 out, and hanging before some nest holes in a sand-hiU, 

 where these birds usually nesde. 



This incident confirms my suspicions that this species of 

 hirundo is to be seen first of any ; and gives great reason 

 to suppose that they do not leave their wild haunts at all, 



