171 HIRUNDINID.E. 



swallow. When a bird of prey approaches the swallows 

 and Martins flock together, but, as soon as the danger is 

 past, the species separate again. 



During the breeding time Martins frequently quarrel, 

 and the victor either drives his antagonist out of the nest, 

 for the possession of which the dispute has arisen, or he 

 pulls him out of it by the head, in which act they mostly 

 fall together to the ground. 



Martins are seldom seen to perch upon the ground, the 

 construction of their feet is more adapted for holding fast, 

 or when in a vertical position, in constructing their nests, &c. 



The call-notes of the Martins are various, but hardly 

 possible to be described in words or letters ; shirr, sreeb, stra, 

 &c. are among them : the young birds call the word brid 

 while in the nest but very faintly, and the song with which 

 the male bird tries to amuse his wife while in the nest is a 

 never-ending chattering, by no means pleasing. The social 

 disposition of the Martin is very remarkable ; they seem to 

 entertain no fear for man : in proof of which the following- 

 fact was communicated to us by a friend. A pair of Martins 

 chose for their breeding-place a sheltered corner in a pro- 

 jecting window shade, such as are seen in Venetian pictures ; 

 here their plastered nest was built, and their young, four 

 in number, reared, regardless of any interruption from the 

 inhabitants of the room, although they were within the reach 

 of them, and constantly within their sight. The young 

 birds, when strong enough to leave the nest, sat upon 

 the bar within the frame until tempted by the parent birds 

 to fly. In the course of the autumn the shade or frame, 

 being a moveable one, was taken down as usual, and carefully 

 laid away, in order that the nest might be preserved. On the 

 following spring the shade, still containing the nest, was re- 

 placed above the window, in the hope that the Martins might 

 return and resume possession of it. They did return, and 



