779 
Tlio same cause had, to some extent, a like effect on the 
Swallows and House Martins, which, missed from the town itself, 
were found, during rural walks, hawking for flies over the luxuriant 
hay crops, and always under the lea of a tall fence or a covert side. 
The predominance of Swallows over House Martins here, as in 
many other localities, was remarkable. The diminution of late 
years in the number of House Martins, is also a matter of some 
speculation, variously accounted for by naturalists, and my 
observations of some years past, have led mo to consider that 
modern architecture, and allied causes, have much to do with it. 
Drainage in and around our cities and towns, and the deficiency 
thereby close at hand, of the minute forms of insect life that 
form the sustenance of themselves and their nestlings, has had, 
no doubt, a considerable effect upon them, together with the 
persecution of Sparrows, who usurp their nests ; but this must 
have existed long ago, though it has told more perceptibly on 
diminished numbers through other circumstances. 
As to modern street architecture, then, I would point out that 
the prevalence of iron gutters and the invariable flat painted 
board beneath, are a snare to the House Martin, Avhich may be 
seen for days vainly attempting to fix its clay stmeture to the 
smooth surface, beginning again and again till the wood-work is, 
from end to end, dotted with little lumps of clay ; and if here and 
there, successful, the nest falls later through much heat, or wet. 
People are also more particular now than formerly as to their 
house-fronts, and the birds are often driven off as a nuisance, and 
more frequent outside painting brings the inevitable third year of 
disturbance just as the nesting time commences, and with all their 
old nests destroyed, the birds are unsettled and, probably, only late 
fix on some other site. How rare it is now, even in the country, 
to see a IMartiu’s nest in tlie upper corner of a bedroom window. 
The old-fashioned gable is disappearing fist from our streets, and 
those over-hanging and often drooping eaves, under which Martins’ 
nests Avero protected from Avind and Avet. The poorer localities in 
our cities and toAvns are unquestionably the chief resorts in these 
days of both Martins and SavuHoavs, though exceptions may bo 
met Avith, here and there ; and Avhat the paint-pot does for the 
House Martin, the chimney-pot effects for the SAA-alloAA*, closing up 
the old chimney shafts in Avhich it once built its nest. 
3 F 2 
