The Zoologist — August, 18C6. 343 



one selected has been recently white-washed all over, the walls of one 

 nest coming in for a share. 13th. Little progress has been made, the 

 weather being still unsettled : one nest has been thrown down. 

 16lh. The martins are rebuilding on the foundation of the injured 

 nest, to which about an inch and a half has been added, and on which 

 they were found crouching and sheltering themselves from the gale in 

 the evening, as if about to roost. Another pair was observed snugly 

 ensconced in a half-finished nest. The foundation of one nest being 

 about four inches from the eaves, I was at a loss to conjecture how it 

 could be made sufficiently roomy, but now find that the walls are 

 being carried out laterally, giving it an odd one-sided look. 17th. The 

 work progressing very slowly, owing to the high wind. 18th. Con- 

 tinued gale and heavy rain throughout the day. 19th. Find that 

 about a third of the walls of the shallow nest has been blown or 

 washed down, and the poor birds are flying to and fro in a wild state 

 of excitement, occasionally settling to examine the breach. 20th. The 

 recently damaged nest has had part of the gap built up ; to another 

 nest half an inch or so has been added, though the one adjoining has 

 not been touched, but the nest that is being rebuilt has had a part of 

 the inclined wall raised an inch or more, making it even. The ousted 

 martins have taken repossession of their nest to-day, but being molested 

 by sparrows, it is doubtful whether they will be allowed to finish it. 

 The weather mild and calm at last : thermometer 60*^ at 9 a. m. The 

 martins are as busy as bees, and almost as numerous : I saw dozens 

 to-day collecting mud from a public road recently watered : the chalky 

 soil was doubtless rendered more tenacious by being trodden under 

 foot and ground down by carriage-wheels. 2lst. Thermometer 68° at 

 1 P.M. The martins have been heard at work throughout the day : the 

 damaged nest has received some further repairs, and most of the others 

 additions, except the one referred to yesterday, which is apparently 

 forsaken. The layers are often inclined and wedge-shaped, so that the 

 walls may be one day sloped, another day even : these layers seldom 

 much exceed an inch in thickness at the broad part; not that this order 

 is invariably observed, as two or more layers are sometimes sloped the 

 same way : why this seemingly awkward mode of building is adopted 

 it is hard to say, but since it admits more sun and wind it dries more 

 quickly. Only one out of the six nests has even the shell completed 

 as yet. A nest having been commenced to-day, I may now ascertain 

 the time taken in building under more favourable circumstances. 

 22nd. The patch of mud, that yesterday was not readily discernible, 



