158 SAND MABTItf, 



even so far north as Carlisle, as Mr, Hej^sham has recorded, 

 before the end of March. In Cumberland it has been observed 

 on the 4th. and the llth. of April. In the Orkney Islands 

 it arrives in May. In the month of August it departs. 



In favourite situations, the holes that these birds have bored 

 may be seen in great numbers, and close to each other. Two 

 broods in the year are sometimes reared, the first being able 

 to forage for themselves in about a fortnight; and when the 

 first batch of young have left the nest, they roost in numbers 

 in such places as osier beds in small islands, on the banks 

 of rivers, and other suitable resting-places. The second brood 

 is not unfrequently forsaken by its parents, who find the call, 

 'away, away,' too strong to be resisted, and even natural affec- 

 tion gives way to its all-powerful command. Both parents 

 feed the young as long as is necessary: they all return at 

 night to sleep in the nest. They are sociable birds, as 

 evinced by the great number of their tenements that are to 

 be seen in the immediate vicinity of each other. In some 

 instances, however, single pairs have been known to build by 

 themselves, and in others only small numbers. 



Their flight is rapid, flickering, and unsteady. When 

 searching for food, they may be seen skimming low over 

 meadows and commons; and, like the other Swallows, they 

 often drop upon the water as they fly, to drink, or to lave 

 themselves. 



The food of this species consists, like that of the rest of 

 their genus, of insects, and these are frequently dashed at on 

 the water. The young are fed with the same, sometimes of 

 large size. 



The nest of the Sand Martin, as intended by its name, is 

 placed in the straight banks of rivers, cliffs of the sea-shore, 

 sand-pits, and such other like situations as are sufficiently 

 soft for the bird to perforate not always at a high elevation 

 I have known them almost within reach of the hand from 

 the beach. It hollows out for itself a way to its intended 

 resting-place to the depth of from two to three, and even 

 nearly four feet. The work is performed with its bill, which 

 it keeps closed for the operation, swaying itself round as 

 occasion requires 011 its feet as a pivot. It begins at the 

 centre and works outwards, and hence the former is more 

 deeply penetrated than the latter. The gallery, which tends 

 upwards, is more or less tortuous; the entrance is from two 

 to two inches and a half wide, and is widest at the inner 



