THE FAIRY MARTIN. 143 



u supplementary erection on which one of the birds sits while the other is engaged 

 in hatching the eggs. 



As the nest is rather complicated in its structure, it occupies some time rn preparation 

 a week generally passing before it is fit to receive the eggs. When the Rufous-bellied 

 Swallow builds in barns or out-houses, it is very gregarious in its habits, twenty or thirty 

 nests being often placed in close proximity to each other, and generally Avithin an inch or 

 two ; yet there is no quarrelling among the birds, and the whole society is remarkably 

 harmonious. While the female is sitting on the eggs, the male often places himself 

 on the mud perch, and pours forth his complacent little twitter of a song for her consola- 

 tion. There are generally two broods in each season. 



In size the Rufous-bellied Swallow is not quite equal to the common Swallow of 

 England, being only about seven inches in length. Its colour is not unlike that of the 

 Swallow, excepting that the under portions of the body are of a ruddy chestnut in the 

 male, and of a rusty white in the female. 



The RUFOUS-NECKED SWALLOW is easily to be distinguished from the preceding 

 bird by its comparatively small dimensions, its entire length being hardly six inches, and 

 by the form of its tail, which is without the usual fork. 



It is also known by the name of the Republican Swallow, on account of its habit of 

 building its nests in close proximity to each other, and in very great numbers. The nest 

 is of a singular shape, being formed something like a Florence flask with its neck 

 shortened and widened. Mud is the chief substance with which it is built, and the 

 lining is composed of dried grasses and other soft substances. These birds are rapidly 

 beginning to attach themselves to civilized habitations, and may be often found building 

 their nests upon walls of barns and out-houses. When they prefer to live in the open 

 country, they choose a convenient wall of rock for the purpose, and place their nests 

 in some spot where they are sheltered by overhanging heaps of stone. The nest is very 

 rapidly built, being ready for occupation within five or six days from the time when 

 it was begun. The eggs are generally four in number, and their colour is white, covered 

 with many brown spots. 



The plumage of this pretty little bird is a deep glossy violet, almost black upon 

 the back, head, and wings ; the under portions of the body are greyish-white excepting the 

 breast, which is a ruddy-ashen tint. A band of pale rusty-red passes over the forehead, 

 and the upper tail coverts are of the same hue. Above the bill a narrow black band is 

 drawn as far as the eye. 



AMONG the most ingenious of bird architects, the FAIRY MARTIN holds a very high 

 place in virtue of the singular nest which it constructs. 



The nest of the Fairy Martin has a very close resemblance to a common oil flask, and 

 reminds the observer of the flask-shaped nests which are constructed by the Pensile 

 Oriole and similar birds, although made of harder material. The Fairy Martin builds its 

 curious house of mud and clay, which it kneads thoroughly in its beak before bringing it 

 to the spot where it will be required. Six or seven birds work amicably at. each nest, one 

 remaining in the interior enacting the part of chief architect, while others act as hodsmen, 

 and bring material as fast as it is required. Except upon wet days, this bird only -works 

 in the evening and early morning, as the heat of mid-day seems to dry the mud so rapidly 

 that it cannot be rightly kneaded together. The mouths, or " spouts " of these nests vary 

 from eight to ten inches in length, and point indifferently in all directions. The diameter 

 of the widest portion of the nest is very variable, and ranges between four and seven 

 inches. 



The exterior of the nest is as rough as thai of the common swallow of England, but 

 the interior is comparatively smooth, and is lined with feathers and fine grass. The eggs 

 are generally four or five in number, and the bird rears two broods in the course of 

 the year. 



The Fairy Martin is very capricious in its choice of locality. Sometimes it will take 

 a fancy to a house, and will build its nests in regular rows under the shelter of the eaves. 

 Sometimes it prefers the perpendicular face of a rock, and in that case will build several 



