BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 73 



with yellowish brown ; almost invariably a dark hair-like 

 streak at the large end. 



SAND MARTIN (Cotile riparia}. 



April to September. Somewhat local, but occurring 

 abundantly enough in suitable places. 



Haunts. Gravel and sand-pits, waste, broken land ; 

 partial to rivers. 



Observation. Distinguish from Swallow and Martin 

 by prevailing mouse-brown upper plumage. 



Plumage. Upper parts, cheeks, and band on breast 

 mouse-brown. Throat and under parts white. Wings 

 and tail blackish brown. Bill black. Legs dark 

 brown. Length 5 in. Female, similar with narrower 

 bar across breast. Young, upper parts tipped with 

 whitish buff ; under parts dingy white. 



Language. Rather like the Martin, but sharper and 

 coarser in tone. Call-note, " sweer." 



Habits. It feeds like the Swallow on the wing, but the 

 flight is far more vacillating. Although weak-billed, 

 it tunnels into the faces of sand and gravel-pits for the 

 purpose of nest site. Breeds in colonies and shuns 

 human habitations, unlike Swallow and House Martin. 



Food. Insects. 



Nest. May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In gravel or sand pits, in railway cuttings, &c., 

 the tunnel being two or three feet long, terminated by 

 the nest cavity. 



Materials. Dry grass, straw, and rootlets loosely 

 put together, with a lining of feathers. 



Eggs. Four to six. White and slightly glossy. 



