HIS bird is even more 
plentiful in many districts 
than the swallow, from which it can be easily distinguished 
by its shorter tail, and more especially by the snow-white 
hue of the belly and the hinder part of the back. In general 
habits it is very similar to it, and the two may be seen 
hawking in company together, very often in considerable 
numbers. 
As its name implies, the House Martin is very much 
attached to human habitations, under the eaves of which it 
builds its cup-shaped nest. The walls are made of mud, 
sometimes collected from the edges of puddles in the roads, 
sometimes from ‘“‘ worm-casts ” on the lawn, 
and thoroughly kneaded together 
so as to form 
