302 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS* 



SAND-MARTENS. March 23, 1788. A gentleman, who 

 was this week on a visit at Waverley, took the opportunity of 

 examining some of the holes in the sand banks with which 

 that district abounds. As these are undoubtedly bored by 

 bank-martens, and are the places where they avowedly breed, 

 he was in hopes they might have slept there also, and that he 

 might have surprised them just as they were awaking from 

 their winter slumbers. When he had dug for some time, he 

 found the holes were horizontal and serpentine, as I had 

 observed before ; and that the nests were deposited at the 

 inner end, and had been occupied by broods in former sum- 

 mers ; but no torpid birds were to be found. He opened and 

 examined about a dozen holes. Another gentleman made 

 the same search many years ago, with as little success. These 

 holes were in depth about two feet. 



March 21, 1790. A single bank or sand-marten was seen 

 hovering and playing round the sand pit at Short Heath, where 

 in the summer they abound. 



April 9, 1 793. A sober hind assures us, that this day, on 

 Wish-hanger common, between Hedleigh and Frinsham, he 

 saw several bank-martens playing in and out, and hanging 

 before some nest holes in a sand hill, where these birds usually 

 nestle. 



This incident confirms my suspicions that this species of 

 hirundo is to be seen first of any ; and gives great reason to 

 suppose that they do not leave their wild haunts at all, but are 

 secreted amidst the clefts and caverns of those abrupt cliffs 

 where they usually spend their summers. 



The late severe weather considered, it is not very probable 

 that these birds should have migrated so early from a tropical 

 region, through all these cutting winds and pinching frosts ; but 

 it is easy to suppose that they may, like bats and flies, have 

 been awakened by the influence of the sun, amidst their secret 

 latebrce, where they have spent the uncomfortable foodless 

 months in a torpid state, and the profoundest of slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wish-hanger, which induces these 

 sand-martens to frequent that district : for I have ever 

 remarked that they haunt near great waters, either rivers or 

 lakes. * 



evening, but not long enough to take notice of its habits and manners. I 

 have never seen it but in the summer, between the months of May and 

 September. MARK WICK. 



* Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this very ingenious 



