324 OBSERYATIQNS ON BIRDS. 



also sometimes seen it in an evening, but not long enough 

 to take notice of its habits and manners. I have never seen 

 it but in the summer, between the months of May and 

 September. MARKLWICK. 



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 hill, where these birds 

 usually nestle. 



This incident confirms my suspicions that this species of 

 Mrundois to be seen first of any ; and gives great reason to 

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

 are secreted amidst the clefts and caverns of those abrupt 

 cliffs where they usually spend their summers. 



The late severe weather considered, it is not very probable 



* I am not sure that the habits of the little sand-martin (Hirundo 

 riparia) do not interest me more than those of the swallow. They excavate 

 their holes in Bunny sand-banks with wonderful rapidity, and dart in and 

 out of them in a way peculiarly pleasing, and which I am never tired of watch- 

 ing. When the male and female are resting for a few moments, in the recesses 

 of their sandy retreat, their gentle notes of love and affection may be heard, and 

 then they resume their rapid and " joyous " flight. ED. 



