BIRDS OF THE GARDENS 19 



Upper parts, sides of neck, and belt across chest black 

 with purplish reflections ; under parts dull reddish 

 white. Tail long and forked. Bill and legs black. 

 Length 7^ in. Female, less chestnut on forehead and 

 less black on chest ; under parts whiter. Young, duller, 

 chestnut areas whiter. 



Language. Song, pleasing, and rather reminiscent 

 of the Linnet's ; a twittering kind of warble, consisting 

 of one note like " le-wit," and another rather metallic 

 one. Call-note, " whit." Alarm-note, " whit-tit-tit-tit." 



Habits. Flight graceful, gliding and doubling. It 

 seldom alights on the ground, on which it is very awk- 

 ward, and even drinks on the wing, skimming the surface 

 of the water for the purpose. It returns year after 

 year to the same nest. 



Food. Insects, almost entirely captured on the wing. 

 Nest. May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. On top of rafter of purlin in an open shed, in 

 chimneys, under stone bridges, &c. 



Materials. Mud pellets mixed with dry grass or hair ; 

 lined with fine grass and feathers. Nest saucer-shaped 

 and not hemispherical with hole for access as with the 

 House Martin. 



Eggs. Four to six. White, spotted with rich red- 

 brown, and greyish purple shell-markings. 



HOUSE MARTIN (Chelidon urbica). 



April to October. Generally distributed and common, 

 except in the extreme North. 



Haunts. Country villages, farm-yards, &c. 



Observation. Distinguish from Swallow by shorter and 

 less forked tail and white throat and rump. 



