THE BIRDS 



distinguished by its glossy black plumage and white breast ; while 

 the Martin has a white patch on its back as well as a white waistcoat. 

 The Swallow's tail, too, is longer and more forked than the Martin's: 

 The Swallow prefers to build its nest within some building ; in 

 shape it is like an open saucer, the material used being always 

 mud, into which pieces of straw, dry grass, and horsehair are 

 worked, and the inside is lined with feathers. The House Martin's 

 nest is placed under eaves, window-ledges, or any convenient 

 projection ; it is fashioned entirely of mud, lined with feathers, 

 and is quite closed, except for the entrance, which is a hole in the 

 side. If undisturbed the Martins will return year after year to 

 the same place, and if the old nest is not too dilapidated will set 

 to work to repair it for the coming brood; 



The Sand Martin (Cotile riparia) is a smaller bird, ashy-brown 

 in colour, with a white breast across which there is a brownish band. 

 It nests in colonies in sand cliffs, pits, quarries, etc., excavating 

 deep tunnels enlarged at the inner end to make a comfortable 

 nursery. 



The Crow tribe is often divided into three sub-families the 

 True Crows (Corvin&), the Jays and Magpies (Garrulina), and the 

 Choughs (Fregilina). The birds of the Crow family are by many 

 authorities placed at the head of the class Aves. Among them 

 we find the most highly developed type of wing, every quill and 

 wing-covert being perfectly formed; the feet, too, are perfectly 

 adapted to the bird's mode of life. 



This family has an almost world- wide distribution, some members 

 being found in nearly every part with the exception of New Zealand, 

 the Australian region east of the Sandwich Islands, and New 

 Caledonia. The first division includes the Raven, Carrion Crow, 

 Rook, Jackdaw, and the Nutcracker, all sturdy-looking birds, 

 mostly clothed with black plumage having greenish or purplish 

 tints. The Hooded Crow is distinguished by having its back 

 and lower parts an ashen-grey, and the Jackdaw by the silver- 

 grey feathers on the back of its neck. The Nutcracker is a dark 

 brown bird with black quills and whitish spots. 



The Raven (Corvus cor ax) is the largest of the Crow tribe. At 

 one time common in woods and on the hills and crags of Great 

 Britain, it is now rarely found inland ; but on the tall sea-cliffs 

 on many parts of the seacoast the bird still makes its home, being 



