136 HOUSE MARTIN. 



curious places. Some years ago a pair of Swallows 

 built in the corner of one of the sitting-rooms at 

 Queenwood, continuing their operations through the 

 open window while people were using the room, and 

 eventually laying their eggs. It has been found in 

 the hole of a tree, in a hanging lamp, in an open 

 drawer, in a disused loft, on the handles of a pair of 

 shears, and in the knocker of a hall door. 



The eggs are usually four to six in number, white 

 spotted and speckled with light brown and deep coffee 

 colour. Two broods are often hatched in the year. 



HOUSE MARTIN. 



HIRUNDO URBICA. 



Family PASSERIDJE. Sub-family HIRUNDININ^. Genus 

 HIRUNDO. 



Martin Martlet Window Martin Eaves Swallow Martin 

 Swallow. 



The Martins reach our shores about a week later 

 than the Swallows, and soon spread themselves 

 throughout the British Isles ; they leave again as a 

 rule a few days earlier. The Martin is often mistaken 

 by casual observers for the Swallow, but it may easily 

 be distinguished by its shorter tail, its perfectly white 

 rump, and glossy black feathers on the upper parts. 

 Its legs, too, are covered with soft downy feathers 

 down to the toes, which is not the case with others 

 of the Swallow kind. The legs are very short and 

 weak and cannot be used for walking. If it should 

 try to move along the ground it always uses its wings. 



Like the Swallow, the Martin feeds entirely on in- 



