654 



of 



; sons are familiar, and which Shakspeare 

 terms " the temple-haunting Martlet," is 

 found throughout Europe and Asia, and 

 i is much more abundant in England than 

 > the Swallow, which generally arrives here 

 ' about ten days previous to this bird. It 

 is about five inches and a half in length ; 

 i bill black ; upper parts of the body and 

 tail of a glossy blue black ; rump and all 

 ' the under parts of the body white; ends 

 of the secondary quill-feathers finely edged 

 with white ; and the legs covered with 

 white downy feathers down to the claws, 

 which are white also, very sharp and much 

 hooked. Should the weather prove fa- 

 vourable, it begins to build early in May ; 



placing its nest generally beneath the eaves 

 of a house or building against rocks and 

 cliffs by the sea-side. The nest is composed 



externally of mud and straw, and lined 

 with feathers. The first hatch consists of 

 five eggs, which are white inclining to dusky 



at the thicker end : the second of three or 

 four ; and if a third, of only two or three. 

 While the young birds are confined to the 

 iiest, the parents feed them, adhering by the 

 claws to the outside ; but as soon as they 

 are able to fly, they receive their nourish- 

 ment on the wing, by a quick and almost 

 imperceptible motion. As the season ad- 

 vances the flocks increase in number daily, 

 from the addition of the second and third 

 broods ; and during the month of October 

 they generally migrate, continuing to depart 

 till about the 6th of November, by which 

 time they have generally all disappeared. 



The SAND MARTIN, or BANK SWALLOW 

 (Hirundo [.Cotijle] riparia), is the smallest as 

 well as the least numerous of our Swallows. 

 It has no partiality for the society of man, 

 but dwells in communities along steep gra- 

 velly and sandy banks, in which it makes 

 deep holes for breeding places. Several of 

 these holes are often within a few inches of 

 each other; and extend in various strata 

 along the front of the precipice, sometimes 

 for eighty or a hundred yards. At the end 

 of the hole is placed the nest, which is care- 

 fully constructed of straw, dry grass, and 

 feathers. The female lays five or six white 

 feggs, almost transparent, and has commonly 



two broods in the year. The young are 

 hatched late in May ; and Wilson tells us 

 that he has taken notice of the common 

 crow, in parties of four or five, watching at 

 the entrance of these holes, to seize the first 

 straggling young that should make its ap- 

 pearance. He also observes, that " from the 

 clouds of Swallows that usually play round 

 these breeding-places, they remind one at a 



SAND MARTIN. (H1RONDO RIPARIA.) 



distance of a swarm of bees." This species 

 is common to Europe and America, arriving 

 in this country first of the Swallow tribe : it 

 is the scarcest and most local with us, but 

 is extremely abundant in America. " They 

 are particularly fond of the shores of rivers, 

 and, in several places along the Ohio (says 

 he), they congregate in immense multitudes. 

 We have sometimes several days of cold 

 rain and severe weather after their arrival 

 in spring, from which they take refuge in 

 their holes, clustering together for warmth, 

 and have been frequently found at such 

 times in almost a lifeless state with the cold ; 

 which circumstance has contributed to the 

 belief that they lie torpid all winter in these 

 recesses. I have searched hundreds of these 

 holes in the months of December and Ja- 

 nuary, but never found a single Swallow, 

 dead, living, or torpid. I met with this bird 

 in considerable numbers on the shores of the 

 Kentucky river, between Lexington and 

 Danville: They likewise visit the sea-shore 

 in great numbers, previous to their depar- 

 ture, which continues from the end of Sep- 

 tember to the middle of October." The 

 plumage is mouse-colour above ; the throat, 

 fore part of the neck, belly, and vent, white ; 

 wings and tail brown, the outer feather 

 slightly margined with white : legs dusky, 

 slightly feathered behind ; feet smooth and 

 dark brown. The manners of this species 

 are similar to those of the Common Martin, 

 with which bird it often associates, and fliea 

 over the water in pursuit of insects. 



The PURPLE MARTIN (Progne purpurea) 

 is a native of America, inhabiting all parts 

 of the United States and Canada to Hud- 

 son's Bay. It is a general favourite, and 

 takes units abode among the habitations of 

 men. The Indians and Negroes hang up 

 gourds, properly hollowed for its conveni- 

 ence ; and in some parts of the Union, con- 

 siderable expense is sometimes incurred in 

 preparing for it a suitable residence. In the 

 country it renders essential service, by wor- 

 rying and driving away crows, hawks, and 

 other large birds. To observe with what 



