MART IX. 53 



of this species as of all the rest. There is, in fact, hardly 

 a month, nay, there is hardly a day in the winter half of 

 the year, on which, on one occasion or another, a Martin 

 has not been seen, either a late arrival, or a late tarrying, 

 or one roused up from the lethargic slumber of a torpid 

 hibernation, in which it would appear that, in some instances 

 at least, these birds are wrapped. The average time of the 

 arrival of the Martin is about the 21st. of April a few days 

 later than the Swallow; but, as already pointed out in the 

 case of that species, after they have made their first appear- 

 ance, they often disappear for weeks, and again shew them- 

 selves, and then remain through the summer. About the 

 middle of October they generally depart in large flocks, 

 having first congregated on house-tops, church-towers and 

 roofs, and even on trees. They are often, however, much 

 later in leaving us. White of Selborne saw a small flock on 

 the 3rd. of November. A flock of more than one hundred 

 were seen at Dover, on the 13th. of November, 1831. Montagu 

 saw several at Kingsbridge, in Devonshire, until the 15th. of 

 November, 1S05. A flight of more than two hundred were 

 seen at Barnstaple, on the 17th. of November, 1838; and 

 the Rev. W. F. Cornish saw one near Sidmouth, on the 10th. 

 of December, 1835. 



'Timid as they appear to be,' says Bishop Stanley, 'when 

 occasion calls for exertion and courage, they can not only 

 fight a good battle, but manifest a good deal of generalship. 

 A pair of Martins having built in a corner of a window, 

 one, of which, from a remarkable white feather in one of 

 its wings, was known to be the same bird which had built 

 there the year before, had no sooner finished their nest, than 

 a strange Swallow conceived the plan of taking possession 

 of the property, and once or twice actually succeeded in 

 driving the owners out. For a week there was a constant 

 battling; at length the two rightful owners were observed 

 to be very busily engaged in lessening the entrance into the 

 nest, which in a short time was so reduced, that it was 

 with difficulty they could force themselves into it singly. 

 When they had accomplished their object, one or other of 

 them always remained within, with its bill sticking out, 

 ready to receive any sudden attack. The enemy persevered 

 for a week, but at length, finding its prospects hopeless, left 

 the pair to enjoy the fruits of their forethought.' 



The following curious circumstance, originally communicated 



