264 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



MARTINS. 



Two species of Martin fly over our waters and 

 meadows, namely, the Sand Martin and the House 

 Martin. The former of these little creatures is amongst 

 the first birds to arrive here in the spring, for the vernal 

 equinox is scarcely passed ere we see these little aerial 

 songsters, in their sober garb of brown and white, flitting 

 round the sandbanks which contain their nests. 



The Sand Martin is found in the neighbourhood of 

 sandpits, where hundreds may be seen skimming through 

 the air on never-tiring wing. Their flight, however, is 

 not so rapid as the true Swallow, nor is it of such a 

 peculiar twisting nature. Like the Swallow family in 

 general, the Sand Martin delights to skim over large 

 pools of water, occasionally touching the surface with its 

 wings. All members of the Swallow tribe drink when 

 on the wing, and, judging from their motions, they do so 

 pretty frequently. Sand Martins are strictly gregarious, 

 and tHere are few more lively scenes in bird life than 

 a large company of these active little creatures. The 

 neighbouring sandbanks are pierced with their holes, 

 many' hundred pairs of birds living together. The birds 

 are constantly in motion, darting hither and thither, 

 uttering their pleasing notes, and occasionally visiting 

 their nests with food for their sitting mates. Let us try 

 to gain some little insight into their nesting habits from 

 the feathered tenants of yonder sandbank. 



