THE SWALLOW. 145 



and the Martin. There is a marked resemblance between 

 many of the British species, and their namesakes in 

 this country ; but here we have the very birds themselves, 

 hawking over the creeks and plains, and forming their 

 clay nests under the shingles of the bush hut, just as we 

 were wont to see them skimming over the meadows and 

 rivers at home, " from morn till dewy eve," or building 

 under the eaves of the straw-thatched cottage in the vil- 

 lage streets. We miss, however, the pretty artless twitter 

 peculiar to the British bird, for the Australian swallow 

 has no song. Although the severity of the winter in 

 these climes is so little felt that we scarcely notice the 

 advent of the summer migrants with the same joyous 

 feelings that we did at home, still the first sight of this 

 elegant and cheerful little bird cannot fail to bring back 

 pleasing recollections to the minds of all, 'for of all 

 birds in every clime, the swallow is, perhaps, one of man's 

 most constant and faithful companions. In colour and 

 habits both birds in all respects resemble their namesakes 

 at home, but they appear to be a little smaller, and I 

 have often observed both building in large decayed trees 

 by the side of the swamps. The nest is formed of clay, 

 lined with feathers, often of the most gorgeous colours. 

 I never observed a Sand-marten out here. 



Strange to say, I never met with a single "Woodpecker 

 in this country, which would appear so peculiarly adapted 

 to the habits of that class of birds, abounding as it does 

 with such extensive forests, the old dead trees of which 

 must afford shelter to millions of insects. We had two 



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