62 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Remarks Eggs Disposition, &c. 



these cavities, I have never been able to discover, 

 but it would be a matter worthy of observation, 

 where it falls in the way of any naturalist to 

 make such remarks. This I have often taken 

 notice of, that several holes of different depths 

 are left unfinished at the end of the summer. To 

 imagine that these beginnings were intentionally 

 made in order to be in the greater forwardness 

 for next spring,, is allowing, perhaps, too much 

 foresight to a simple bird. May not the cause 

 of these being left unfinished arise from the birds 

 meeting in those places with strata too harsh, 

 hard, and solid, for their purpose ; which they 

 relinquish, and go to a fresh spot that works 

 more freely t Or may they not in other places 

 fall in with a soil as much too loose and moulder- 

 ing, liable to flounder, and threatening to over- 

 whelm them and their labours ? One thing is 

 remarkable : that, after some years, the old 

 holes are forsaken, and new ones bored ; perhaps 

 because the former habitations were become foul 

 and fetid from long use, or because they so 

 abounded with fleas as to become untenable.'* 



The sand-martin appears in this country about 

 the same time as the swallow, and lays from four 

 to six white and transparent eggs. These birds 

 seem not to be of a very sociable disposition, 

 never (at least in England) congregating in the 

 autumn. They have a peculiar manner of fly- 

 ing : flitting about with odd jerks and vacilla- 

 tions not unlike the motions of a butterfl. 



