THE MABTIK 



Hirundo urbica. 



MEMBER of the great Swal- 

 low family, the Martin, or, 

 as it is more generally called, 

 the House Martin, in many 

 respects resembles this bird 

 very closely. It is mi- 

 gratory in its habits, and 

 reaches this country some 

 two or three days after the 

 arrival of the Swallow. Al- 

 though both birds leave the 

 African continent simul- 

 taneously, the superior wing- 

 power of the last-mentioned 

 enables it to perform the 

 journey with greater rapidity. 

 The House Martin reposes 

 unlimited confidence in man, 

 and usually builds its nest 

 under the eaves of houses, or 

 in the angles of windows, and 

 commonly in the centre of 

 towns. They generally choose 

 only one particular house, and 



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