SAND-MABTINS. 185 



young in the dark, it would not be so easy to ascertain the 

 time of breeding, were it not for the coming forth of the 

 broods, which appear much about the time, or rather some- 

 what earlier, than those of the swallow. The nestlings are 

 supported in common, like those of their congeners, with 

 gnats and other small insects, and sometimes they are fed 

 with libellulcB (dragon-flies) almost as long as themselves. 

 In the last week in June we have seen a row of these sitting 

 on a rail, near a great pool, as perchers, and so young and 

 helpless, as easily to be taken by hand ; but whether the 

 dams ever feed them on the wing, as swallows and house- 

 martins do, we have never yet been able to determine ; nor 

 do we know whether they pursue and attack birds of prey. 



When they happen to breed near hedges and enclosures, 

 they are dispossessed of their breeding-holes by the house- 

 sparrow, which is, on the same account, a fell adversary to 

 house-martins. 



These hirundines are no songsters, but rather mute, making 

 only a little harsh noise when a person approaches their nests. 

 They seem not to be 01 a sociable turn, never with us congre- 

 gating with their congeners in the autumn. Undoubtedly 

 they breed a second time, like the house-martin and swallow ; 

 and withdraw about Michaelmas. 



Though in some particular districts they may happen to 

 abound, yet on the whole, in the south of England at least, 

 is this much the rarest species ; for there are few towns or 

 large villages but what abound with house-martins; few 

 churches, towers, or steeples but what are haunted by some 

 swifts ; scarce a hamlet or single cottage-chimney that has 

 not its swallow ; while the bank-martins, scattered here and 

 there, live a sequestered life among some abrupt sand-hills, 

 and in the banks of some few rivers. 



These birds have a peculiar manner of flying, flitting about 

 with odd jerks and vacillations, not unlike the motions of a 

 butterfly. Doubtless the flight of all Jiirundines is influenced 

 by, and adapted to, the peculiar sort of insects which furnish 

 their food. Hence it would be worth inquiry to examine 

 what particular genus of insects affords the principal food of 

 each respective species of swallow. 



Notwithstanding what has been advanced above, some few 

 sand-martins, I see, haunt the skirts of London, frequenting 



