404 hirundinid^;. 



the sand-martin in various localities around Belfast, (as about trees at road-sides, &c.,) 

 which they had not hitherto frequented, assumed the swallow's place in considerable 

 numbers. 



Of the places around Belfast resorted to by this species, were 

 two, differing much in character ; the one, a portion of the bank 

 of the river Lagan, elevated not more than six feet above the 

 usual level of the water;* the other, a stratum of hard sand only 

 a few feet in breadth, overlying the limestone of an extensive 

 quarry, at an elevation of about 600 feet above the sea; but at 

 these places a few pair only bred. The burrows at the latter were 

 within about eighteen inches of the top. 



Where banks suitable to the mining operations of the sand- 

 martin offer a secure abode in the vicinity of Lough Neagh, the 

 species, as may be inferred from its partiality to water, is abundant. 

 The precipitous sandy cliffs rising above this great expanse of 

 water in Massareene deer-park; near Langford Lodge; and at 

 Glenavy river ; — three localities within the distance of a few miles, 

 are resorted to by great numbers. On the 16th of August, 1836, 

 Mr. Hyndman remarked several hundreds of these birds congre- 

 gated, where the Glenavy river falls into Lough Neagh, and that 

 about fifty at a time alighted on the earthy and gravelly beach of 

 the lake. The weather was very stormy, and the wind blowing 

 upon the shore. The birds did not appear to be feeding when on 

 the ground. Sir Wm. Jardine records a proceeding, similar in 

 some respects, in the following words: — "We once observed 

 many hundreds of the sand-martin resting on the sands of the 

 Solway Pirth, upon a space not exceeding two acres ; a small 

 stream entered the sea, and they seemed partly resting and wash- 

 ing, and partly feeding on a small fly that had apparently come 

 newly to existence, and covered the sands in immense profusion." 



The most exposed locality in which I have noticed this species, 

 was about the banks where the river Bush joins the ocean near 

 the Giants' Causeway. I had seen numbers here many years ago; 

 and in the month of June, 1842, when staying for some time in 

 the neighbourhood, had frequent opportunities of observing them, 

 either sweeping the sands where the river disappears in the 



* I have known them at another place, not more than four feet above the water. 



