16 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



(a circumstance which occurred frequently in the 

 course of the day) the bird left her nest for an 

 instant, but returned to it as soon as it was shut. 

 I afterwards learnt that the swallow hatched, and 

 that her young arrived at maturity." * 



The swallow has been known to build her nest 

 in the handles of a pair of garden-shears, and in 

 the body of a dead owl. The Welcome swallow 

 of Australia naturally builds in deep clefts of 

 rocks and dark caverns. Singular to relate, how- 

 ever, since the colonization of that country it has 

 selected the smoking chimneys and dwellings of 

 man. In out-houses and shady verandahs its nest, 

 which is open at the top, is now frequently to be 

 seen. 



The martin (hirundo urbica) is said to have a 

 strong predilection for old houses : but this is by 

 no means generally true, as the martin often builds 

 against houses recently erected. Sometimes it 

 will build its nest upon precipices steep and in- 

 accessible, in preference to erecting them upon 

 modern houses which may be in the neighbourhood. 

 In the picturesque vicinity of Portstewart, Lon- 

 donderry, Mr. W. Thompson noticed that martins 

 * Jesse : Gleanings, &c. 



