NATURAL HISTORY. 227 



fear, and the place was deserted except by the crafty hawk 

 and his screaming prey. The eggs are five, pinkish white 

 with an almost imperceptible dotting of red. 



CUELIDOX. (Gr. XeTutuv, a Swallow.) 



Urbica. (Lat. of the city), the Martin. 



The MARTIN or WINDOW SWALLOW reaches this country a 

 little after the swallow, and almost invariably takes possession 

 of its old nest, which it repairs about May. It lays five eggs 

 closely resembling those of the sand martin. About September 

 immense numbers may be seen perched upon houses and trees 

 preparatory to their departure. The dome of the RadclifFe 

 Library at. Oxford is a favourite assembling place for these birds, 

 where they may be seen lingering for several days after most 

 of their fellows have vanished. At these times every available 

 point is covered with them. The dome of St. Paul's is also a 

 favoured spot. 



The ESCULENT SWALLOW, whose nests are considered such 

 a delicacy among the Chinese, builds its singular habitation in 

 the sides of almost inaccessible cliffs, so that the business of 

 procuring them is a most dangergus task. The nature of the 

 jelly-like transparent material of which the nests are made is 

 not yet known. The nests are found in Java. 



