Flight. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
130 INSECTIVORI. HIRUNDO. Martin. 
Swallows. Two broods are commonly produced in the year, 
the first being able to fly in July, the second in August or 
September, some time previous to their migration. About 
the beginning of October, Martins congregate in vast num- 
bers, frequently almost covering the roofs of houses, particu- 
larly in the villages upon the banks of the Thames. Towards 
the middle of the month, they begin to depart, and continue 
to do so in flocks, till about the 6th or 8th of November, af- 
ter which time few are seen; and these, in all probability, 
are weak birds, that find themselves incapable of undertaking 
the journey, and perish under the first attack of the winter’s 
severity. The form of this species is thicker than the Chim- 
ney Swallow; the wings also and tail are shorter in propor- 
tion to the size of the body.— The flight of the Martin is very 
smooth and buoyant, but not so rapid, or attended with such 
sudden evolutions as the preceding species. During the sea- 
son of incubation, and when both birds are in the nest, it 
frequently utters its song, the notes of which, though guttu- 
ral, are soft, and the cadences are pleasing. According te 
TEmMMINCK, the migration of the Martin does not extend be- 
yond the Tropics. 
PriateE 42. Fig. 2. Natural size. 
Bill black. Head back part of the neck, and upper part of 
the back, glossy bluish-black. Wings and greater co- 
verts brownish-black. Tail the same, and forked. Un- 
der parts and rump snow-white. Tarsi and toes clothed 
with downy white feathers. 
White varieties of this as well as the other species some- 
times occur. 
