.218 THE MARTIN 



As soon as the young-ones are able to provide for themselves, the 

 dams repair their nest for a second brood. The first flight then asso- 

 ciate in vast flocks ; and may be seen on sunny mornings and 

 evenings, clustering and hovering around towers and steeples, and 

 on the roofs of churches and houses. These congregations usually 

 begin to take place about the first week in August. From observing 

 the birds approaching and playing about the eaves of buildings, many 

 persons have been led to suppose that more than two old birds attend 

 D each nest 



The Martins are often very capricious in fixing on a nesting-place, 

 oeginning many edifices and leaving them unfinished ; but (as we 

 have before observed) when a nest has once been completed in a 

 sheltered situation, it is made to serve for several seasons. In form- 

 ing their nests, these industrious artificers are at their labor, in the 

 long days, before four o'clock in the morning : in fixing their materials 

 they plaster them on with their chins, moving the head with a quick 

 vibratory motion. 



Sometimes, in very hot weather, they dip and wash themselves as 

 they fly, but not so frequently as the Swallows. They are the least 

 agile of all the British hirundines ; their wings and tails are short, 

 and therefore they are not capable of those surprising turns, and quick 

 and glancing evolutions, that are so observable in the Chimney-Swal- 

 lows. 



Their motion is placid and easy : generally in the middle region 

 of the air; for they seldom mount to any great height, and never 

 sweep long together over the surface of the ground or water. They 

 do not wander far in quest of food ; but are fond of sheltered places 

 near some lake, or under some hanging wood, especially in windy 

 weather. 



During the residence of a Mr. Simpson, at Welton in North 

 America, he one morning heard a noise from a couple of Martins 

 that were flying from tree to tree near his dwelling. They made 

 several attempts to get into a box or cage which was fixed against 

 the house, and which they had before occupied ; but they always ap- 

 peared to fly from it again with the utmost dread, at the same time 

 repeating those loud cries which first drew his attention. Curiosity 

 led this gentleman to watch their motions. After some time, a small 

 Wren came from the box, and perched on a tree near it ; when her 

 shrill notes seemed to amaze her antagonists. Having remained a 

 short time, she flew away. The Martins took this opportunity of re- 

 turning to the cage; but their stay was short. Their diminutive adver- 

 sary entered and made them retire with the greatest precipitation. 

 They continued manoeuvring in this way, during the whole day, but 

 on the following morning, when the Wren quitted the cage, the Mar- 

 tins immediately returned, took possession of their mansion, broke 

 up their own nest, went to work afresh with extreme industry 

 and ingenuity, and soon barricaded their doors. The Wren re- 

 turned, but could not now re-enter. She made attempts to storm 

 the nest, but did not succeed. The Martins abstaining from ftxH 

 nearly two days, persevered during the whole of that time in defeat*- 



