112 



THE HOUSE MARTIN 



they will tell one, is as yet absolutely established fact, 

 "the way of the bird in the air" is still shrouded in 

 mystery. 



The House Martin is smaller than the Chimney 

 Swallow and is easily distinguished from it. At the 

 first glance we are struck by the two colours of its 

 plumage, black and white. Throat, breast, underparts, 

 and also the rump are white ; beak, neck, mantle, 

 wings, and tail, black. The little legs are covered in 

 front with white down, like little trousers. The throat 

 is less white than that of the Swallow. Its nest is 

 half-globular, built of clay, and has only a very narrow 

 opening. It builds under eaves, or cornices, in 

 sheltered places on houses and churches, in whole 

 colonies, sometimes in groups, also one over another 

 like a bunch of grapes. It lays five, sometimes seven 

 white eggs. 



The Swallow's Flight. 



