THE HOUSE-MARTIN. 
397 
This species generally rears two broods during its sojourn. 
Once, as late as the 23rd of September, several old birds were ob- 
served to fly so repeatedly to their nests, that I had no doubt these 
at the time contained young.* The second brood is generally 
reared in the same nest as the first, but it is probable, that when 
the nest is not found suitable for the purpose, a second erection is 
undertaken, as on the 1 7 th of July, I remarked seven nests in 
front of a house, which, in the month of October, contained 
nine. 
Mr. White's remark (Hist, of Selborne, letter 18), that the 
young swallows “ at once associate with the first broods of the house- 
martins, and with them congregate, clustering on sunny roofs, 
towers, and trees," is quite in accordance with my observation in 
Ireland. I have, more than once, noticed the martin in company 
with the swallow in autumn, at places remote from its breeding- 
haunts. On the 6th of September, 1832, immense 'numbers of 
both species were in company at the Tails, and flying so close to 
the ground as occasionally to stop for a moment, apparently to 
take their food from the very grass. They also alighted in mul- 
titudes on the fruit trees in the garden, and notwithstanding their 
decided predilection for perching on dead branches, they on this 
occasion chose especially for that purpose, two large cherry-trees 
in full foliage. Amongst these birds appeared a solitary sand- 
martin, a bird, which, as well as the house-martin, was never be- 
fore seen about the place, and near to which neither species builds. 
Trorn observing the swallow and the martin thus congregated 
for some time previous to migration, I have little doubt, great as 
is the disparity in their powers of flight, that they often leave the 
country together ; indeed both species have been observed to alight 
in company on vessels very far out at sea.f 
Respecting the separate migration of the martin, it may be 
* In a note contributed to Mr. Bennett’s edition of White’s Selborne, p. 61, a 
particular instance is detailed of a pair of martins remaining behind for the purpose 
of briuging forward their progeny, instead of migrating with the great body of their 
companions. That the young are often deserted at such times by their parents, has 
been fully proved by Mr. Blackwall. 
t C. L. Bonaparte, in Zool. Journ. ; and Bloxham, in Mag. Nat. Hist. 
