220 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
under surface and under tail coverts white ; bill black, 
very short ; feet black ; rectrices 12 ; primaries 9. 
The colonies of nests are placed under either a 
culvert, the overhanging bank of a creek, or the roof 
of an old quarry or cutting. I have notes of such 
nesting-places at Yarram Creek (near Queenscliff), 
North Geelong, Batesford, and Ceres, so that the 
birds are fairly widespread through the district ; 
they are much more plentiful than the Tree Martin, 
though just as tenacious of their old nesting-sites, 
nor do they readily adopt new quarters. 
On March loth, 1912, there were still young birds 
able to fly, about a group of nests in an old quarry 
near Ceres. Visiting these nests in the following 
summer on December 8th, we found sparrows in 
possession of several of the nests, with eggs and young 
of their own ; the Martins had apparently not suc- 
. ceeded in hatching any eggs. 
I judge that they have at least two broods in the 
year, as I found a small colony at Ceres on October 19th, 
1889, all the nests containing eggs. These number 
three or four, and are narrower, more pointed, and 
more finely marked than the Welcome Swallow's 
eggs. 
Until about the year 1902 large numbers of Fairy 
Martins used to assemble towards the summer's end 
in the Eastern Beach reserve, perching on the pines 
and willows about the steps going down the hill. Of 
late years I have not seen these. I could not ascertain 
that they bred anywhere in the vicinity. 
