322 THE FAIRY MARTIN. 



has frequently been proved by affixing certain marks to individual 

 birds and watching for their return. Bonietimes it happens that the 

 house on which they had built has been taken down during their 

 absence, and in that case the distress of the poor birds is quite pit- 

 iable. They fly to and fro over the spot in vain search after their 

 lost homes/and fill the air with the mournful cries that tell of their 

 sorrow. 



The Swallow is widely spread over various parts of the world, being 

 familiarly known throughout the whole of Europe, not excepting Nor- 

 wav, Sweden, and the northern portions of the Continent. It is also 

 seen in Western Africa, and Mr. Yarrell mentions an instance where 

 it was observed in the island of St. Thomas, which is situated upon the 

 equator. The martin and the swift were seen at the same place. 



The color of the Swallow is very beautiful. Upon the forehead the 

 feathers are of a light chestnut, which gives place to deep glossy steel- 

 blue upon the upper portions of the body and wings. The primaries 

 and secondaries are black, as are the tail-feathers, with the exception 

 of a few white patches. The throat is chestnut, and a very dark-blue 

 band crosses the upper part of the chest. The under parts are white, 

 and the beak, legs, and toes black. The female is distinguished by 

 the smaller chestnut on tho forehead, the lighter tint of the feathers, 

 and the narrowness of the dark band across the chest. 



Many examples of white Swallows are on record, and specimens may 

 be seen in almost every collection of British birds. 



Among the most ingenious of bird architects, the Fairy Martin 

 holds a very high place, in virtue of the singular nest which it con- 

 structs. 



The nest of the Fairy Martin has a very close resemblance to a com- 

 mon oil-flask, and reminds the observer of the flask-shaped nests which 

 are constructed by the pensile oriole and similar birds, although made 

 of harder materials. The Fairy Martin builds its curious house of 

 mud and clay, which it kneads thoroughly in its beak before bringing 

 it to the spot where it will be required. Six or seven birds work am- 

 icably at each nest, one remaining in the interior and enacting the part 

 of chief architect, while others act as hodsmen and bring material as 

 fast as it is required. Except upon wet days this bird works only in the 

 evening and early morning, as the heat of the midday seems to dry the 

 mud so rapidly that it cannot be rightly kneaded together. The 

 mouths, or " spouts," of these nests vary from eight to ten inches in 

 length, and point indifferently in all directions. The diameter of the 

 widest portion of the nest is very variable, and ranges between four 

 and seven inches. 



The exterior of the nest is as rough as that of the nest of the 

 common swallow of England, but the interior is comparatively smooth, 



