71 
{StfMOpieryx hiruntiinis)^ either in the ne<t or attached 10 
one of the old birds, which remains with them until the young 
leave the nest. The probable explanation of tliis is that the spider 
feeds on the small lice and parasites which infest these birds and 
is tolerated as a friend in the nest by the martin. 
Martin. Sand- (Pages 8-ii).— Is the earliest of the swallow tribe 
to return to our shores. It usually arrives a fortnight or three weeks 
before the sw.allow. The first arrivals ate often mistaken for 
exceptionally early swallows. 
!(i appcar«\nce it is very similar to the swallow but is smaller, 
being without the long tail feathers, and is only 4) inches in length. 
The head, wings and back aie of a dark brown colour, which 
graduates into a white underside, with a white ring round the neck. 
Although rather local, it is a very common bird where suitable 
nesting-ground is available. It burrows out a tunnel for it.self in the 
face of a .sandy liver-bank, sand quarries, railway embankments, 
and like places. The length of this tunnel varies according to the 
nature ol the earth in which it is dug. In fairly soft ground it will 
often go as far as 4 feet in, whilst in hard ground the bird is content 
with t8 inches to a feet. It is astoiiLshing how such a fragile little 
creature ever manages to excavate these long burrows with nothing 
but a pair of very tiny red feet and a soft bill. 1 he tunnel is greater 
ill width than height, slopes upward, and Ls enlarged at the end to 
receive the nest of straw and feathers. Four or five pure white eggs 
are laid, which cannot be distinguished with certainty from those of 
the hou-se-martin. 
Moor-hen, the (Pages 45 and 46), or water-hen as it is usually 
called, is one of our conunonest water fowls, spending the whole year 
on our p.arks, lakes, ponds, and streams. It has a slate and brown 
body with white tipped wings and tad and a bright red blaze on its 
forehead. It can always be easily distinguished on either land or 
water. When on the former, by its dainty step with a constant 
flicking of its white tail ; when swimming, from its habit of jerking 
out its bead and drawing it back with every stroke of its feet — 
very like the common goose when swimming. 
It feeds on numbers of tender roots and seeds, insects, and worms. 
When disturbed it flies a short distance away with its legs hanging 
down, but never goes far. It is an adept at skulking out of sight, 
under the overhanging bank-sides, and will often dive beneath 
the surface and swim a considerable distance along the bottom, 
making use of its wings to accelerate its movements. 
It is at times a mystery to know what has become of a whole 
family of moor-hens which were feeding to.gether a few seconds 
previous to when the old bird suddenly gave the al.arm note. 
The young are all black and have enormous legs and feet, each 
claw being almost as large as the young bird itself. They can swim 
as soon as they are born although they have not webbed Icet. 
Seven to ten eggs of a pale stone-colour blotched and speckled with 
dull red are laid in a basket like nest built of dry reeds and rushes. 
Occasionally moor hens nest in trees and bushes, but only after they 
have been disturbed on the ground by rats or other vermin. 
