404 SAND MARTIN. 



bers, and previous to migration congregate largely 

 together, often resting on the sandy parts of the 

 shores of lakes or of the sea, when their breeding 

 places have been near the latter ; at this time the 

 cause of alighting may both be to rest the young 

 birds and to procure food, for, as we stated in a 

 note to Wilson's Ornithology, we once observed 

 many hundreds of the Sand Martin resting on the 

 sands of the Sol way Frith, upon a space not ex- 

 ceeding two acres ; a small stream entered the 

 sea, and they seemed partly resting and washing, 

 and partly feeding on a small fly that had appa- 

 rently come newly to existence, and covered the 

 sands in immense profusion. 



This Martin is distributed generally over Bri- 

 tain and the continent of Europe, extending in 

 the former to the Orkneys. In the Old World, 

 we do not authentically know its exact range ; 

 but in America, the species are now generally 

 considered to be identical. Mr Audubon has 

 placed them as such, and the Prince of Musi- 

 gnano, though using a query, has placed both 

 species opposite in his comparative list. 



The upper parts, except the tail covers, sides 

 of the head, and a band across the breast, are of 

 a deep hair brown ; the wings and tail brownish 

 black, in some lights appearing slightly glossed 

 with greenish ; the lower parts of the body, with 

 the upper tail covers, are white, shaded slightly 

 on the flanks with hair brown. 



The remaining British swallows, concluding 



