150 THE SMALLER URITISH BIRDS. 



about thirteen days. Usually two, but sometimes as many as four 

 broods are reared in a season. It is most amusing to watch the en- 

 deavours of the parents to tempt the young from the nest; they spring 

 into the air, and dart around for a few moments, apparently with the 

 object of proving to their timid offspring what a simple matter flight 

 is, and then return with many an affectionate and coaxing twitter, re- 

 peating this persuasive treatment until their efforts are successful, and 

 the little troop make their first nervous and uncertain venture into 

 space; or, should kindness and coaxing fail, they will sometimes adopt 

 severer measures, and gently push or drag the waiverers over the 

 edge of the nest. 



The habits of the Martin are very similar to those of the Swallow; 

 its note is a lively twitter, very sweet and pleasing, especially when 

 heard in the early morning. 



The adult male is a little over five inches and a quarter in length. 

 The beak is short and black; the irides brown; the head, hind part 

 of the neck, and back are glossy bluish black; the tail coverts white, 

 and the tail and wings dull black. The chin, throat, and breast are 

 white; the legs and toes covered with short downy white feathers, 

 and the claws greyish horn-colour. The female resembles the male, 

 but the colour of the upper parts is not so pure, and the chin and 

 throat are of a soiled or greyish white. The young resemble the 

 female. 



THE SAND MARTIN, 



(Hirundo riparia.') 

 PLATE IX. FIGURE VI. 



LIKE the other members of the Swallow tribe, the Sand Martin 

 makes its way to our shores from the continent of Africa, over the 

 larger portion of which it is abundant. It arrives a little earlier than 

 the previous species, and although somewhat locally distributed, is to 

 be met with in all parts of the British Isles, even to the extreme 

 north. The situations it frequents are the steep banks of rivers, sand 

 or loam -pits, and cliffs or quarries where the soil is soft and yielding; 

 hence its specific title, Hirundo riparia, meaning the Bank Swallow. 

 T,i such localities extensive colonies establish themselves, the members 

 of which excavate tunnels or galleries of from two to four feet in 



