74 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



In the marshes they breed in some numbers, attach- 

 ing their nests to the underside of the arch of the 

 drain-bridges and outfall cloughs. I have frequently 

 seen Swallows hawking for insects in the North Sea, 

 many miles from the nearest land. 



123. HIRUNDO URBICA, Linnaeus. House-Martin. 



Not nearly as numerous as the preceding, and, I 

 am sorry to say, undoubtedly much less common 

 than formerly. Fifteen years since, scores nested 

 each year about the farm-buildings in this parish, 

 where not half a dozen pairs can now be found*. 

 Arrives on the average about ten days later than the 

 Swallow, namely the last week in April, and in cold 

 backward springs delaying its coming till the first or 

 second week in May. Leaves about the same time 

 as the Chimney-Swallow. I have found considerable 

 numbers of their nests attached to the underside of 

 the projecting shelves of the Flamborough cliffs over- 

 hanging the sea. 



124. HIRUNDO RIPARIA, Linnaeus. Sand-Martin. 



Provincial. Sand-Swallow. 



The average arrival of the Sand-Martin in this 

 parish for the last ten years has been the 21st of 

 April, a week later than the Chimney Swallow. Is 

 generally distributed and very abundant during the 



* The House-Martin became suddenly plentiful again in this 

 parish in the spring and summer of 1872, which was a great 

 insect year. 



