HOUSE MARTIN SAND MARTIN. 37 



Materials. Mud pellets mixed with dry grass or hair ; lined 

 with fine grass and feathers. Nest saucer-shaped. 



Eggs. Four to six. White, spotted with rich red-brown, 

 and greyish purple shell-markings. 



HOUSE MAETIN (Chelidon urbica). 



Migrant; April to October. Generally distributed and com- 

 mon, except in the extreme North. 



Haunts. Country villages, farm-yards, &c. 



Observation. Distinguish from Swallow by shorter and less 

 forked tail and white throat and rump. 



Plumage. Head, nape, upper parts, except rump, black with 

 purplish reflections ; under parts and rump pure white. Wings 

 and tail sooty-brown. Bill black. Legs and toes covered with 

 white downy feathers. Length 5 in. Female, similar. Young, 

 browner above and under parts dingy white. 



Language. Song, a simple twittering repetition of the call- 

 note, " szeet." 



Habits. Much resembling the last, but not quite so quick 

 on the wing. Better able to walk, but its progress is laboured. 

 It nests in small colonies usually, and returns to the same 

 place yearly. 



Food. Insects entirely. 



Nest. May onwards. At least two broods. 



Site. Against the wall of some building, generally with the 

 eaves projecting over it ; under bridges, &c. 



Materials. Mud applied with the beak and giving a wattled 

 appearance, and in shape semi-spherical with entrance-hole 

 near the top ; lined with straw, dry grass, and feathers. 



Eggs. Four to six. White and slightly glossy. 



SAND MAKTIN (Cotile riparia). 



Migrant ; April to September. Somewhat local, but occur- 

 ring abundantly enough in suitable places. 



Haunts. Gravel- and sand-pits, waste, broken land ; 

 partial to rivers. 



Observation. Distinguish from two preceding species by 

 prevailing mouse-brown upper plumage. 



Plumage. Upper parts, cheeks, and bar on breast mouse- 

 brown. Throat and under parts white. Wings and tail 

 blackish brown. Bill black. Legs dark brown. Length 5 in. 

 Female, similar with narrower bar across breast. Young, 

 upper parts tipped with whitish buff ; under parts dingy 

 white. 



Language. Rather like the last, but sharper and coarser in 

 tone. Call-note, " sweer." 



