SAND MARTIN CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 159 



There silent they sit, scarce one twittering note, 

 Is heard to distend the sweet fissirosts' throat. 

 But the Martins, in fear of a cold April day, 

 Deferred their approach till the season of May; 

 While the Swifts, whose loud shrieks make the 



welkin oft ring, 

 Chose a day still more distant to welcome the spring. 



violet; five and a quarter inches long ; nest long, conic, chiefly 

 of the down of dog's bane, curiously woven together with a di- 

 vision in the middle. Inhabits Cayenne. 



The Riparia, Sand Martin, Shore-bird, or Bank Martin, 

 is the smallest of the British Swallows, being in length only four 

 inches and three quarters ; the upper parts of its plumage are a 

 mouse-coloured brown; beneath white,except across the breast, 

 which is brown. Frequents rivers,andmakesitsnestin the banks, 

 but is most commonly found in sand-pits, where it easily makes 

 its nest in horizontal holes two or three feet deep. May be seen, 

 during the summer, in the sand-banks at the lime-kilns near the 

 foot of Blackheath-hill. It sometimes builds in old walls; and, 

 occasionally, it is said, in hollow trees. Eggs five, white. 

 Habits in other respects similar to the House Martin. Found 

 in most parts of Europe, and also in America, where it is called 

 Ground Martin. i >o- f! 



The Pelasgica, called by Wilson, Chimney Swallow, is 

 found in.the United States of America, but it is there, as the 

 swallow of this country, a migratory bird, arriving in Pennsyl- 

 vania late in April or early in May : it builds in chimneys, but, 

 in the woods, in hollow trees; nest formed of very small twigs, 

 fastened together with a strong adhesive glue or gum, secreted 

 by two glands, one on each side of the hind head, and mixes 

 with the saliva; eggs four, white; young fed during the night. 

 This bird is four and a half inches long, and twelve in extent; 

 colour a deep sooty brown ; it is supposed to winter in Honduras. 



