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THE HOUSE MARTIN. 
over the greater part of the body, with the exception of the wings and tail, which are of a deep 
blackish -brown. The female and young male birds are brown, with a strong blue tinge upon 
the upper parts of the body, and only a grayish- white below. 
The Swallows are at present embraced under the family Hirundinidce. Seven species are 
known in North America. 
The Pubple Mabtin ( Progne subis ) is the largest and finest appearing of this group. 
It is a general inhabitant of the United States, reaching as far north as Hudson’s Bay. It has 
a strong liking to the vicinity of man’ s habitation. 
The Baen Swallow (. Hirundo erythrog astro) is the most familiar form in the Northern 
States. Wilson says : “We welcome the first appearance of the Swallows with delight, as the 
faithful harbingers and companions of flowery spring and ruddy summer ; and when after a 
long, frost-bound, and boisterous winter, we hear it announced that the Swallows have come, 
what a train of charming ideas are associated with the simple tidings.” The Cliff and White- 
bellied Swallows are familiar to the country-side. 
The pretty little Sand Martin is, in spite of its sober plumage and diminutive form, a 
very interesting bird, and one which adds much to the liveliness of any spot where it may take 
up its abode. 
In size it is less than any of the other Hirundinidse, being less than five inches in total 
length. The color of this bird is very simple, the general tint of the entire upper surface of 
the head and body being a soft brown, relieved from too great uniformity by the sooty- 
black quill feathers of the wings and tail. The under surface is pure white, with the excep- 
tion of a band of brown across the upper part of the chest. The young bird possesses a lighter 
plumage than the adult, owing to the yellowish-white tips of the back, tertiaries, and upper 
coverts. The beak is dark brown, and the eyes hazel. 
Resembling the common swallow in habits and general appearance, the House Mabtin 
may easily be distinguished from that bird by the large white patch upon the upper tail- 
coverts, a peculiarity which is even more notable when the bird is engaged in flight than when 
it is seated on the ground or clinging to its nest. In the dusk of evening the Martins may 
often be seen flying about at so late an hour, that their bodies are almost invisible in the dim 
and fading twilight, and their presence is only indicated by the white patches upon their 
backs, which reflect every fading ray, and bear a singular resemblance to white moths or 
butterflies darting through the air. 
This beautiful little bird is found in all parts of Europe, and is equally familiar with the 
swallow and sand Martin. It places its clay-built nest principally under the shelter afforded 
by human habitations, and becomes so trustful and fearless that it will often fix its nest close 
to a window, and will rear its young without being dismayed at the near presence of human 
beings. 
It is rather a curious fact that the Martin should be so apparently capricious in its archi- 
tectural taste, as has frequently been observed. The birds will often take a great fancy to one 
side of a house, and will place whole rows of their nests under the eaves, totally neglecting 
the remaining sides of the house, even though they offer equal or superior accommodation. 
Generally the Martins avoid the south side, apparently from a well-grounded fear that the 
heat of the midday sun might crack and loosen the mud walls of their domiciles. A north- 
eastern aspect is in great favor with the Martins, and I lately observed a very great number of 
their nests affixed to the eastern walls of a row of houses, together with several isolated cot- 
tages, and, on a careful examination, could not see a single nest upon any other part of the 
buildings. 
The nest of this species is extremely variable in shape and size, no two being precisely 
similar in both respects. Generali y the edifice is cup-shaped, with the rim closely pressed 
against the eaves of some friendly house, and having a small semicircular aperture cut out of 
