150 HABITS OF THE HOUSE MARTIN. 



" Wlien the House Martins returned in that year to a thatched cottage, belonging to 

 Mr. John Clements, where they had annually built for a long period — and which then 

 displayed fourteen of their nests — a pair found that sparrows had taken possession of 

 their domicile. On perceiving this, they kept up ' such a chattering about the nest ' as to 

 attract the attention of the owner of the house. After its continuance for some time, 

 apparently until they were convinced that the sparrow was determined to retain possession, 

 they flew away, and did not return for a considerable time, when they reappeared with 

 about twenty of their kindred. They now immediately commenced 'claying up the 

 entrance to the nest,' which was done in the course of the day ; next morning, the 

 construction of a new nest was commenced against the side of the old one, and in it they 

 reared their brood undisturbed. After some time, the proprietor of the cottage, who had 

 never heard of any similar case, pulled down both nests, and in that occupied by the 

 sparrow found its ' rotten corpse,' together with several eggs. A particular note of the 

 entire proceeding, as related by Mr. Clements, was made by my brother soon after the 

 occurrence; but to make 'assurance dovibly sure,' before publishing the account in 1842, I 

 inquired of Mr. Clements whether he remembered such a circumstance, and he repeated 

 it just as narrated nine years before. Some other persons, too, of our mutual acquaintance 

 were witness to the chief part of the proceeding, and saw the sparrow, together with the 

 eggs, in the sealed-up nest. 



What appears to me the most singular feature in this case is, that the sparrow should 

 remain in the nest, and allow itself to be entombed alive. But this bird was sitting on 

 the full complement of eggs, probably in the last stage of incubation, at which period we 

 know that some birds leave the nest only to procure such a scanty morsel as will barely 

 support life. Occasionally, at such times they allow themselves to be lifted off their eggs, 

 and wlien placed on again, continue to sit as intently as if they had not been disturbed. 

 The filling up of the aperture is not in itself a singular proceeding on the part of the 

 Martins, but on this occasion, when the assistance of theu' neighbours was called in, would 

 ahnost seem to be intended as an act of retributive justice on the sparrow. Their building 

 against the side of the old nest is quite a conmion occurrence." 



There are generally several broods in the course of the year, two being the usual 

 number, and three or even four being sometimes noticed. In such cases, however, the 

 young birds seldom reach maturity, for they are hatched at such a late period of the year 

 that the parents are unable to withstand the instinct that leads them to migrate, and in 

 obeying the promptings of this principle, leave their unfortunate family to perish miserably 

 of hunger. The parents do not seem to grieve over their dead children, and when they 

 return to the nest in the succeedmg season, they unconcernedly pull the dried and 

 shrivelled bodies out of the nest, and rearrange it in readiness for the next brood. It 

 has been well suggested that a change in the nature of the bird takes place at every 

 season of migration, and that the "storg^," or love of offspring, is suddenly quenched 

 when the creature is called upon to undergo its long journey. 



Although they are by no means brave birds, excepting in familiarity with man, they 

 display great courage in defending their homes from the attacks of foes, and will oppose, 

 to the best of their power, any adversary, whether man, beast, or bird. If their nests are 

 broken down, they hover round the destroyer, and dash at him with all their might, 

 uttering hoarse screams of rage and sorrow. 



The habits of the Martin are very like those of the swallow, and in the first year of 

 their existence the two species are frequently companions. Their friendship is, however, 

 but of brief duration, for as soon as the birds have obtained their full development of 

 form, the stronger wings and more enduring powers of the swallow deter the Martin from 

 continuing the companionship. 



In their migration, the Martin differs slightly from the other Hirundinidre, being rather 

 later than the swallow and sand Martin. It is seldom seen in England before the middle 

 of April, whereas the swallow is often noticed by the beginning of that month, although 

 a solitary specimen may occasionally be noticed, which has acted as pioneer to its 

 companions, and arrived simultaneously with the swallow. It leaves this country about 

 thp middle of October, seldom staying beyond the thirteenth or fourteenth of that month. 



