THE SAND MAETIN. 



Hi r undo riparia. 



HE Sand Martin is one of the 

 Hirundinidae, and, like the 

 other members of the family, 

 its habits are extremely in- 

 teresting, and its appearance 

 graceful and attractive. One 

 of the peculiar characteristics 

 of the Swallow family is the 

 ingenuity displayed by them 

 in the construction of their 

 nests ; and the Sand Martin 

 is no exception to the rule. 

 It takes its name from the 

 locality selected by it for 

 breeding purposes ; and the 

 patience, industry, and, one 

 might almost say, science, 

 displayed by these birds in 

 preparing their domiciles are 

 well worthy of the closest 

 attention. 



The Sand Martin usually 

 builds in high sandy banks, 

 by the sides of rivers, cut- 



51 



