THE HOUSE-MARTIN. 397 



This species generally rears two broods during its sojourn. 

 Once, as late as the 23rd of September, several old birds were ob- 

 served to fly so repeatedly to their nests, that I had no doubt these 

 at the time contained young.* The second brood is generally 

 reared in the same nest as the first, but it is probable, that when 

 the nest is not found suitable for the purpose, a second erection is 

 undertaken, as on the 17th of July, I remarked seven nests in 

 front of a house, which, in the month of October, contained 

 nine. 



Mr. White's remark (Hist, of Selborne, letter 18), that the 

 young swallows " at once associate with the first broods of the house- 

 martins, and with them congregate, clustering on sunny roofs, 

 towers, and trees," is quite in accordance with my observation in 

 Ireland. I have, more than once, noticed the martin in company 

 with the swallow in autumn, at places remote from its breeding- 

 haunts. On the 6th of September, 1832, immense numbers of 

 both species were in company at the Palls, and flying so close to 

 the ground as occasionally to stop for a moment, apparently to 

 take their food from the very grass. They also alighted in mul- 

 titudes on the fruit trees in the garden, and notwithstanding their 

 decided predilection for perching on dead branches, they on this 

 occasion chose especially for that purpose, two large cherry-trees 

 in full foliage. Amongst these birds appeared a solitary sand- 

 martin, a bird, winch, as well as the house-martin, was never be- 

 fore seen about the place, and near to which neither species builds. 

 From observing the swallow and the martin thus congregated 

 for some time previous to migration, I have little doubt, great as 

 is the disparity in their powers of flight, that they often leave the 

 country together ; indeed both species have been observed to alight 

 in company on vessels very far out at sea.f 



Respecting the separate migration of the martin, it may be 



* In a note contributed to Mr. Bennett's edition of White's Selborne, p. 61, a 

 particular instance is detailed of a pair of martins remaining behind for the purpose 

 of bringing forward their progeny, instead of migrating with the great body of their 

 companions. That the young are often deserted at such times by their parents, has 

 been fully proved by Mr. Blackwall. 



f C. L. Bonaparte, in Zool. Journ. ; and Bloxham, in Mag. Nat. Hist. 



