COTYLE RIPARIA. 85 



on his property, and says : — " When the earth was beinp; taken off, a pair of 

 Eobins were found to liave taken possession of one of the Sand-Martin's 

 holes, and had akeady laid three eggs in it." 



Mr. Dresser also states that the Sparrow will sometimes hold and 

 occupy a gallery*. 



The bird under examination is a true miner ; and if we examine its bill, 

 we see how well adapted it is for the work. Insects, such as sand-wasps 

 {Sphecklce, Leach) and some bees, excavate galleries in hard sand — the 

 former with caliper-like mandibles ; but the process is different. The bird's 

 mode of mining has been so often described that it is needless to repeat it. 



The range of the Sand-Martin is fully given in Mr, Dresser's ' Birds of 

 Europe ;' and Mr. Sharpe's table of distribution of African HiruncUnidce may 

 be consulted with advantage (P. Z S. 1870, p. 320). The same writer says 

 also (p. 297) : — " Our well-known Sand-Martin only extends into North- 

 eastern Africa. Dr. von Heuglin states that it is rather rare in N.E. Africa 

 and Arabia." 



One thing is much to be wished, that in our country all classes of 

 people would protect such beautiful and harmless colonies as those of this 

 charming and useful little Swallow. Pallas says that " on the high banks 

 of the Irtish their nests are in some places so numerous that when 

 disturbed they came out in vast flocks, and filled the air hke flies." Why 

 should we not have such scenes as this ? Kindness to poor little birds 

 ought to be a part of all religions, and isf. 



* It does not appear that the nest of the Sand-Martin ever became a popular sign ; the 

 '' Martin's Nest " at Thornhill Bridge, Normanton, mentioned in Larwood and Hotten's ' Sign- 

 boards/ p. 178, was probably the House-Martin's. 



t Mr. L. Lloyd, in ' Game-birds and Wild-fowl of Sweden and Norway,' p. 175, mentions an 

 amusing instance of the way in which religion protects the Partridge in Sweden : — " On the last 

 Sunday in Lent the Governor's order, prohibiting the capture or shooting of Partridges from 

 November to August, was notified from all the pulpits within the diocese of Gotland. Scarcely was 



