139 



THE SAND-MARTIN. 



Cotile riparia (L.). 



This species was first observed on the 21st of March and 

 from that date until the third week in April small numbers 

 continued to arrive chiefly on the western portion of the 

 south coast, the balk of the records coming from Devon. 

 After the 20th of April the birds began to arrive in greater 

 numbers on the eastern portion, and the immigratory 

 movement became general along the whole of the southern 

 coast-line. 



The first greatest influx was reported on 27th of April, 

 when hundreds of Sand-Martins were observed flying round 

 the lantern at St. Catherine's (Isle of Wight) between 9.30 

 and 10.30 p.m. 



The only other lighthouse-record was also sent from 

 St. Catherine's, when two Sand-Martins were killed on the 

 night of 29th of April. 



The earliest arrivals were noted in Devon on 21st and 

 23rd of March ; in Carmarthen on the 25th, in Glamorgan 

 on the 28th, in Cheshire on the 29th, and in Shropshire on 

 the 30th. 



On the 2nd of April individuals were recorded from 

 Derbyshire, but no increase in numbers in that county was 

 noted until the 18th ; and this remained the most northerly 

 record for the midlands and east coast until 29th, when a 

 few were noted in Yorkshire. There was a slight increase in 

 numbers in that county on the 30th, and first arrivals in 

 Northumberland were observed on the same day. 



After that date the birds became generally distributed over 



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