the chin to the tail, are white; as is likewise a 

 part above the tail, which is brownish, like 

 ^he wings. This bird is distinguishable at first 

 sight by the bright white colour of all the under 

 parts of the body. The martin usually makes 

 its first appearance early in May, though some- 

 times sooner, and leaves us towards the latter 

 end of October. It builds under the eaves of 

 houses, in the corners of windows, and in crags 

 of rocks and precipices near the sea; and has 

 oftentimes three broods in the year. Its nest is 

 curiously constructed, like that of the swallow, with 

 mud and straw, and lined with feathers on the 

 inside. It was probably this species of which 

 Pliny described the nidification; but it is uncer- 

 tain, as the description of the nest of the other 

 species, which he introduces at the bottom, might 

 be taken for a martin's nest, except that he says 

 it rarely builds it in houses *. 



* Hirundines luto (nidum) construunt ; stramento roborant. 

 Si quando inopia est luti, madefactae multa aqua, pennis pulu- 

 erem spargunt. Ipsum vero nidum mollibus plumis floccisque 

 consternunt tepefaciendis ouis, siraul ne durus sit infantibus 

 pullis. In foetu summa aequitate alternant cibuin. Notabili 

 munditi egerunt excrementa pullorum, adultioresque circum- 



