SAND MARTIN CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 159 



There silent they sit, scarce one twittering note, 

 Is heard to distend the sweet fissirosts' throat. 

 But the Martins, in fear of a cold April day, 

 Deferred their approach till the season of May; 

 While the Swifts, whose loud shrieks make the 



welkin oft ring, 

 Chose a day still more distant to welcome the spring. 



violet; five and a quarter inches long ; nest long, conic, chiefly 

 of the down of dog's bane, curiously woven together with a di- 

 vision in the middle. Inhabits Cayenne. 



The Riparia, Sand Martin, Shore-bird, or Bank Martin, 

 is the smallest of the British Swallows, being in length only four 

 inches and three quarters ; the upper parts of its plumage are a 

 mouse-coloured brown; beneath white, except across the breast, 

 which is brown. Frequents rivei s, and makes its nestin the banks, 

 but is most commonly found in sand-pits, where it easily makes 

 its nest in horizontal holes two or three feet deep. May be seen, 

 during the summer, in the sand-banks at the lime-kilns near the 

 foot of Blackheath-hill. It sometimes builds in old walls ; and, 

 occasionally, it is said, in hollow trees. Eggs five, white. 

 Habits in other respects similar to the House Martin. Found 

 in most parts of Europe, and also in America, where it is Called 

 Ground Martin. 



The Pelasgica, called by Wilson, Chimney Swallow, is 

 found in the United States of America, but it is there, as the 

 swallow of this country, a migratory bird, arriving in Pennsyl- 

 vania late in April or early in May : it builds in chimneys, but, 

 in the woods, in hollow trees ; nest formed of very small twigs, 

 fastened together with a strong adhesive glue or gum, secreted 

 by two glands, one on each side of the hind head, and mixes 

 with the saliva; eggs four, white; young fed during the night. 

 This bird is four and a half inches long, and twelve in extent ; 

 colour a deep sooty brown ; it is supposed to winter in Honduras. 



