BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH. 113 



would probably have rendered it secure. A Starling, how- 

 ever, was only biding her time, and took possession of the 

 hole when its size had been made sufficiently small to pro- 

 tect her in turn against her larger enemies, Jackdaws. The 

 nest is usually composed of a large quantity of dead thorn- 

 leaves roughly heaped together. 



Cuculus canorus. Cuckoo. 



Alcedo ispida. Kingfisher. 



This bird is to be found, though in no great numbers, 

 all along the Kennet, and is often seen in the trees over- 

 hanging the College bathing-place. Its nest has been taken 

 near Polton, and several times on the banks of the Canal 

 near Burbage. One nest was found in a very strange 

 position, viz. in the bank of one of the clay-pits near the 

 entrance to the Forest on the Salisbury road, about a mile 

 from any running water. The nest is always formed of 

 small fish-bones ejected from the mouth of the old bird, like 

 the pellets thrown up by birds of prey, and consisting of all 

 the indigestible portions of their food. 



Hirundo rustica. Swallow. 



Appears at Marlborough about April llth. Myriads of 

 these birds come down to roost in the withy-beds beneath 

 the White Horse and at Polton in the month of September. 

 The nest of the Swallow is very rarely placed under the 

 eaves of a house, like that of its congener the Martin. 

 Young birds have been found in the nest as late as Sep- 

 tember 26th. 



Hirundo urbica. Martin. 



Appears at Marlborough about April 25th. 

 Hirundo riparia. Sand Martin. 



Cypselus apus. Swift. 

 Appears at Marlborough about May 9th, and disappears 



