196 Wonders of the Bird World 



close quarters. Linked arm and arm with Felipe, and 

 crouching low on the water, to look as little human as 

 possible, we approached within some seventy yards before 

 their sentries showed signs of alarm, and at that distance, 

 with the glass, I observed the sitting birds as distinctly as 

 one need wish. Their long red legs doubled under their 

 bodies, the knees projecting as far as or beyond the tail, 

 and their graceful necks neatly curled away among their 

 back-feathers, like a sitting Swan, with their heads resting 

 on their breasts — all these points were unmistakable. 

 Indeed, it is hardly necessary to point out that in the great 

 majority of cases (the nest being hardly raised above the 

 level of the flat mud) no other position was possible." 



It was not till May 25 that Mr. Chapman obtained any 

 eggs from this colony of Flamingoes, and he points out that 

 the delay in the period of incubation indulged in by the 

 species is the more curious, as it results in the gradual 

 drying up of the water, so that the nests would be left 

 stranded in a scorching sea of sun-baked mud. 



Another group of mud-builders is encountered among the 

 Swallows {Hintndinidce),{o\- although our common Chimney- 

 Swallow (Hirundo rust tea) places its nest on a ledge or 

 beam for support, while other species tunnel into banks, the 

 House-Martin [Chelidon urbicd) builds, under the eaves of 

 houses, a nest entirely composed of mud-nodules, and lined 

 with feathers. This is the little bird one sees in the country 

 and in the suburbs of our large towns, descending to the 

 puddles in the roads, after the latter have been watered, 

 and collecting little pellets of sand and mud for its nest. 

 When thus engaged it is easily distinguished from the 

 other birds of the neighbourhood by its blue back, and by 

 the conspicuous white band across the lower part of the 

 latter. It is a remarkable fact that this common little 

 species, which is everywhere protected, and must therefore 

 rear millions of young birds in Europe every summer, still 



