148 THE HOUSE MAETIN. 



to circumstauces. I have often seen the Sand Martins " mob " larger birds ; and on one 

 occasion, whOe they were engaged in pursuing a hawk that was passing near their habita- 

 tion, they suffered for their temerity by the loss of one of their companions, who was 

 carried off screaming in the hawk's talons, and whose sad fate at once dispersed the noisy 

 assembly. I fancy that in this instance the hawk intentionally provoked the attack, as his 

 flight was very unhawklike, and he seemed to stagger, so to speak, while fluttering amid 

 the crowd of Sand Martins. 



The food of this bird is composed of insects, and, in spite of the small dimensions of 

 the little creature, it will pursue, capture, and eat insects of considerable dimensions and 

 strength of wing, such as wasps and dragon-flies. Gnats and similar insects, however, 

 form the staple of its diet. 



The Sand Martin is not much of a wanderer, always hanging about the vicinity of its 

 abode, and satiating itself with the insects of the locality. Generally the nest is placed 

 near water, such as a stream or a lake, so that the bird is sure to find plenty of food 

 among the innumerable insect tribes that frequent such localities. These birds have been 

 noticed to perch by hundi'eds on reeds and patches of sand, where they are able to rest 

 their wings, and to pursue a terrestrial chase after their insect food. 



This bird generally makes its appearance in England about the beginning of April, 

 and has even been noticed before the end of March, so that its arrival is earlier than that 

 of the swallow or Martin. It departs about the beginning of September, and like other 

 British Hirundinidse, makes its way to Africa, where it remains until the succeeding year. 



Resembling the common swallow in habits and general appearance, the House 

 Maetin may easily be distinguished from that bird by the large white patch upon the 

 upper tail-coverts, a peculiarity which is even more notable when the bird is engaged in 

 flight than when it is seated on the ground or clinging to its nest. In the dusk of evening 

 the Martins may often be seen flying about at so late an hour, that their bodies are 

 almost invisible in the dim and fading twilight, and their presence is only indicated by 

 the white patches upon their backs, which reflect every fading ray, and bear a singular 

 resemblance to white moths or butterflies darting through the air. 



This beautiful little bird is found in all parts of England, and is equally familiar with 

 the swallow and sand JMartin. It places its clay-built nest principally under the shelter 

 afforded by human habitations, and becomes so trustful and fearless that it will often fix 

 its nest close to a window, and will rear its young without being dismayed at the near 

 presence of human beings. 



It is rather a curious fact that the Martin should be so apparently capricious in its 

 architectural taste, as has frequently been observed. The birds will often take a great 

 fancy to one side of a house, and will place whole rows of their nests under the eaves, 

 totally neglecting the remaining sides of the house, even though they offer equal or 

 superior accommodation. Generally the Martins avoid the south side, apparently from a 

 well-grounded fear that the heat of the midday sun might crack and loosen the mud 

 walls of their domiciles. A north-eastern aspect is in great favour with the Martins, and 

 I lately observed a very great number of their nests affixed to the eastern walls of a row 

 of houses, together with several isolated cottages, and, on a careful examination, could not 

 see a single nest upon any other part of the buildings. 



The nest of this species is extremely variable in shape and size, no two being precisely 

 similar in both respects. Generally the edifice is cup-shaped, with the rim closely pressed 

 against the eaves of some friendly house, and having a small semicircular aperture cut 

 out of the edge, in order to permit the ingress and egress of the birds. Sometimes, 

 however, the nest is supported on a kind of solid pedestal, composed also of mud, and 

 often containing nearly as much material as would have made an ordinary nest. These 

 pedestals are generally constructed in spots where the Martin finds that her nest does not 

 find adequate support from the wall. 



The material of wliich the nests are built is said to consist principally of the finely 

 pulverized mould which is swallowed by earthworms as they feed, and is ejected at the 

 surface of the ground i:i the weU-known "casts" that often disfigure our lawns, and excite 



