THE SA.ND MAETIN. 57 



and its depth is exceedingly variable. About two feet and a 

 half is a fair average length. Generally, the direction of the 

 burrow is quite straight, but sometimes it takes a curve, where 

 an obstacle, such as a stone or a root has interrupted the pro- 

 gi-ess of the bird. Should the stone be a large one, the Sand 

 Martin usually abandons the burrow, and resumes its labours 

 elsewhere, and in a piece of hard sandstone rock many of these 

 incomplete excavations may be seen. 



At the furthest extremity of the burrow, which is always 

 rather larger than the shaft, is placed the nest — a very simple 

 structure, being little more than a mass of dry herbage and soft 

 feathers, pressed together by the weight of the bird's body. 

 Upon this primitive nest are laid the. eggs, which are very small, 

 and of a delicate pinky whiteness. 



Few foes can work harm to the Sand Martin during the task 

 of incubation. Eats would find the soft sandy soil crumble 

 away from their grasp; and even the lithe weasel would ex- 

 perience some difficulty in gaining admission to the nest. After 

 the young Sand Martins are hatched, many foes are on the watch 

 for them. The magpie and crow wait about the entrance of the 

 holes, in order to snap up the inexperienced birds while making 

 their first essays at flight; and the kestrel and sparrow-hawk 

 come sweeping suddenly among them, and cany off some helpless 

 victim in their talons. 



Man is perhaps the worst foe of the Sand Martin, for there is 

 a mixture of adventure and danger in taking the eggs, which is 

 irresistible to the British schoolboy. To climb up a perpendicular 

 rock, to cling with one hand, while the other is thrust into the 

 burrow, and to know that a chance slip will certainly snap the 

 invading arm like a tobacco-pipe stem, is a combination of joys 

 which no well-conditioned boy can withstand. 



Fortimately for the Sand Martins, many of their nests are 

 placed in situations which no boy can reach, and there are hap- 

 pily some instances where the services which they render to 

 mankind are properly appreciated. Mr. C. Simeon, in his "Stray 

 Notes on Fishing and Natural History," gives an interesting 

 account of some Sand Martins which were thus gi-atefully 

 protected : — 



" Whilst waiting for the train one afternoon at Weybridge, I 

 amused myself with watching the Sand Martins, who have there 



