THE MARTIN. 

 Chelidon urbica (Linnaeus), 

 Plate 15. 



The Martin, which haunts the eaves of our houses, very often in the midst of 

 towns and villages, and hence often called the House-Martin, is easily distinguished 

 from the Swallow by its conspicuous white rump, and arrives shortly after the 

 other bird. It is found throughout the greater part of the British Islands, becoming 

 less frequent and more local in the north and north-western portions, and in Ireland. 



Abroad it has a wide range from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, and ranges 

 eastwards into Asia. It winters in Africa, south of Abyssinia. 



A short time after their arrival the Martins either take possession of their old 

 nests of the previous year, repairing them where necessary, or begin the work of 

 building new ones. Great care and labour is bestowed on the foundations of the 

 new nest, the birds first examining various sites, apparently testing them by fixing 

 small pieces of mud to different parts of the walls of the house they have chosen on 

 which to place their nest. 



This is composed of mud, strengthened with grass-stalks or pieces of straw, 

 with a lining of straws, feathers, and other soft material. 



If provided with small pieces of cotton wool, thinned out and made very light so 

 that they float away in the air, the Martins will readily take these on the wing, 

 usually rising to the wool from below. 



From their manner of seizing this material, it is probable that they take their 

 prey in a similar way, as small gnats and flies would be more easily seen against 

 the sky from beneath. 



The eggs are pure white, and vary from four to five in number. 



The Martin has a soft and very pleasing twittering song. 



The sexes are alike in colour. 



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