THE SAND-MARTIN. 



Description Curious cavities. 



works, raised the siege, quitted her intentions, 

 and left the martins in quiet possession of their 

 nest. 



SAND-MARTIN, OR SAND-SWALLOW, 



WHICH is less than the preceding species, is 

 sibout four inches and three quarters in length. 

 The upper parts of the body are mouse-colored, 

 and the breast and belly white, with a mouse- 

 colored ring as a collar. 



This bird is common about the banks of rivers 

 and sand-pits, where it digs itself a round and 

 regular hole in the sand or earth : this is hori- 

 zontal, serpentine, and generally about two feet 

 deep. At the farther end of this burrow, the 

 bird constructs her rude nest of grass and fea- 

 thers. " Though one would at first be disin- 

 clined to believe (says Mr. White) that this weak 

 i)ird, with her soft tender bill and claws, should 

 ever be able to bore the stubborn sand-bank 

 without entirely disabling herself ; yet with these 

 feeble instruments have I seen a pair of them 

 make great dispatch; and could remark how 

 much they had scooped in a day, by the fresh 

 sand which ran down the bank, and which was 

 of a different colour from what lay loose and had 

 been bleached in the sun. In what space of time 

 these little artists are able to mine and tinish 



