The Bird Book 



work, the nest is completed with a lining of hay 

 and a few feathers. Four or five white eggs are 

 laid, and during incubation the female is assiduously 

 fed by her mate, who clings to the nest, so that 

 one can frequently see her head peep out to take 

 the dainty morsel from his beak, and hear her 

 prettily twitter her thanks. 



Roughly speaking, the House Martin is white 

 below and blue-black above except for a white 

 patch above the tail by which it may easily be 

 distinguished from the Swallow. Indeed in certain 

 lights and positions this is the only part visible 

 and the birds look like silvery-white balls floating 

 mysteriously about. The tail, too, lacks those 

 characteristic spindle feathers which impart such 

 grace to all the Swallow's movements. 



The latter prefers an outhouse, barn or linhay 

 in which to rear its brood, building its nest on 

 a beam or against a convenient rafter. The 

 structure differs in shape though not in composi- 

 tion from that of the Martin, being so flat as to 

 resemble a saucer rather than a cup, yet it serves 

 well enough to contain the five or six long, white, 

 tapering eggs marked with reddish-brown. 



The regularity with which these birds return 

 to their old haunts after spending the winter in 

 the South, is truly wonderful. The Swallows 

 generally arrive before their confreres, and my 

 note-book gives April 4th and 6th as the dates of 

 seeing the first bird in Ipoo and 1901 respectively, 

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