NATURAL HISTORY. 225 



These are intended for the young, and the supply is constantly 

 renewed. It lays from two to four long white eggs, on a nest 

 ' composed of grass, straws, feathers, silk, &c. The colour of this 

 bird is a dusky black. The length is eight inches, the expanse 

 of wing eighteen inches, and its weight barely one ounce. 



Sub-family b. Hirundininse. 

 IlmuxDO. (Lat.) 



Rustica (Lat. rustic}, the Chimney Martin. 



The CHIMNEY MARTIN or SWALLOW is the most common of 

 its family, and too well known to need much description. 

 When skimming over ponds or rivers in search of insects, the 

 snap with which it closes its bill may easily be heard. It also 

 dashes up the water with its wings, which action gave rise 

 to the opinion that Swallows passed the winter under water, 

 and rose in the spring. It may be easily caught with a rod 

 and line baited with a fly, after the manner of anglers. It 

 breeds twice in the year, building a nest of mud against a 

 wall or other convenient situation, and laying five very pale 

 pink eggs, spotted with reddish brown, the pink of which 

 vanishes when the egg is emptied of its contents, as it is 

 caused by the light passing through the yolk, and has to be 

 renewed by artificial means if the egg is placed in a collection. 

 The same is the case with most small light-coloured eggs. 

 The bird appears regular!^ to return, year by year, to its old 

 nest. The whole of its upper surface is a deep purplish black, 

 its forehead and throat chestnut. 



