316 HOMES WITHOUl' HANDS. 



The exterior of the nest is quite as rough as that of the 

 common English martin ; but in the interior it is beautifully 

 smooth. The birds do not seem to have any particular care 

 about the point of the compass towards which the entrance 

 looks, but arrange it indiflferently in any direction. 



The Fairy Martin is a prolific little bird, laying four or five 

 eggs, and rearing two broods in a year. 



There is an American Swallow which builds a nest very 

 similar in form to that of the Fairy Martin. This is the EuFous- 

 NECKED Swallow {Hirundo fuha), whose nests are made of 

 mud, and flask-shaped, but have a wider and shorter neck than 

 is the case with the nest of the Fairy Martin. On account of 

 its gregarious propensities, it is sometimes called the Eeptjblican 

 Swallow. Wherever a favourable spot is found, such as a per- 

 pendicular rock with an overhanging shelf, the nests are built in 

 profusion, being placed so close to each other that the rock is 

 almost covered with thenL 



The birds are also gregarious on the wing as well as in nest- 

 ing, as will be seen by Audubon's remarks upon their habits : — 

 "About sunset they begin to flock together, calling to each 

 other for that purpose; and in a short time presented the 

 appearance of clouds moving towards the lakes on the mouth of 

 the Mississippi, as the weather and wind suited. Their aerial 

 evolutions before they alight are truly beautiful. They appear 

 at first as if reconnoitering the place, when, suddenly throwing 

 themselves into a vortex of apparent confusion, they descend 

 spirally with astonishing quickness, and very much resemble a 

 trorribe or water-spout. When within a few feet of the driers, 

 they disperse in all directions, and settle in a few moments. 

 Their twitterings and the motion of their wings are, however, 

 heard during the whole night, 



"As soon as the day begins to dawn, they rise, flying low 

 over the lakes, almost touching the water for some time, and 

 then rising, gradually move ofl" in search of food, separating in 

 different directions. The hunters who resort to these places 

 destroy great numbers of them, by knocking them down with 

 light paddles, used in propelling their canoes." The drier which 

 is here mentioned is the French popular name for the Myrica 



