46 DOWNS— -ON LAND BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



Purple Martin — {H. purpurea). — This bird visits us every 

 summer, but does not appear to like the place, as we are perhaps 

 too near the sea coast. I have offered it every opportunity for 

 breeding, to no purpose. When our Institute visited Windsor, at its 

 first field meeting in the summer of 1863, I saw some of these birds 

 looking for a convenient place to nest in about the Clifton House; 

 and I ami sure they would breed there if suitable boxes were 

 provided for them, as they appear to delight to breed about inland 

 hotels in the United States, where they are always provided with 

 martin houses. In the western States, the Indians put up hollow 

 gourds on poles for their accommodation. 



White-bellied Martin — (H. bicolfe). — Breeds freely in boxes 

 at my house and Halifax. It is the earliest swallow we have, 

 arriving here about St. George's day. It is not gregarious in habit. 



Cliff Swallow — (H. fulvus). — This bird is very different in 

 its habits from the latter species, building its nest of mud, while the 

 other uses straw and feathers. It also likes the society of its 

 fellows, always building in company in positions like the Dockyard, 

 old Barracks, Province Building, and Dartmouth church, from 

 which latter place I am sorry to say it has been driven away by 

 having its nesting places built up. What would Water ton say to 

 such inhospitality ? I saw this bird breeding about the cliffs of the 

 rocks overhanging the Shubenacadie, in numbers. 



Bank Swallow — (H. riparici). — Not found about Halifax, but 

 is plentiful about the shores of the Basin of Minas, where it builds 

 in the banks. Mr. Torre shot one for a specimen when entering 

 its hole to feed its young. We counted about two hundred flies in 

 its mouth and throat. 



Barn Swallow — (H. rustica). — Is very common, breeding in 

 most of the barns of the country. It is a good architect, like the 

 cliff swallow, building a mud house for its young. 



Belted Kingfisher — (Alcedo alcyoji). — This is a very common 

 bird all over the Province. It builds its nest in a bank, high above 

 the water at the end of a tunnel about two feet long. It lays six fine 

 pearly white eggs. It pays frequent visits to my pond, sitting upon 

 the dead branch of a tree, from which it occasionally makes a 

 plunge for a fish. I think this bird might be kept in confinement, 

 like the Laughing Jackass of Australia, another member of the 



