122 BRITISH BIKDS 



are domestic in habit, and associate together, and unless looked 

 at with attention they are not seen distinctly, and consequently not 

 distinguished. The martin differs from the swallow in its slightly 

 smaller size ; in having its feet feathered and the rump and entire 

 under parts pure white ; and in its less sharply forked tail and 

 shorter wings. On the wing it is not so perfectly free as the swallow : 

 it cannot double so quickly, nor fly with such speed and grace. 



The martin cannot be called a songster. His most common 

 expression is a somewhat harsh note, often uttered as he sports with 

 his fellows in the air ; in the pairing and nesting time he occasionally 

 attempts to sing, usually when clinging to a wall and to the rim of 

 his nest, and emits a slight warbling sound, somewhat guttural, and 

 so low that it can only be heard at a distance of a few yards. 



He arrives in this country a little after the swallow, and imme- 

 diately sets about making a new nest or repairing an old one. This 

 is formed outwardly of mud or clay, and is placed under the eaves 

 of a house, against the wall. He is able to build against a smooth 

 brick or stucco wall, but prefers stone, which has a rougher surface. 

 It is usual to find several nests near together, and the reason is, 

 probably, that the surface of the wall is suitable to build on, and not, 

 as is often stated, because the martins prefer to nest close to each 

 other. The outer shell of the nest, like that of the swallow, is 

 formed of mud or clay, mixed with hairs and fibres to strengthen it, 

 and s placed against the wall at the side and the projecting eaves 

 above, and forms a half or a portion of a hemisphere, a small open- 

 ing being left at the top for entrance. Tne lining is composed of 

 feathers and a little dry grass. Four or five pure white, unspotted 

 eggs are laid. Two broods, and often three, are reared in the 

 season. 



For some days after the young are able to fly the whole family 

 roost at night in the nest. The young of the first brood, as in the 

 case of the swallow, are the first tb migrate. The old birds and the 

 young of the later broods take their departure about the middle of 

 October. 



Sand-Martin. 

 Cotiie riparia. 



Upper parts, cheeks, and a broad bar on the breast mouse- 

 colour ; throat, fore part of the neck, belly, and under tail-coverts 

 white. Legs and feet naked, with the exception of a few small 



