Resembling the common swallow 
in habits and general appearance, 
the House Martin may easily be 
distinguished from that bird by the 
large white patch upon the lower 
part of the back. 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 twi- 
light, and their presence is only 
shown by the white patches upon 
their backs, which reflect every 
fading ray, and bear a singular 
resemblance to white moths or 
butterflies darting though the air. 
HOUSE MARTINS . — Chelidon urbica. This beautiful little bird is 
found in all parts of England, 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 capricious in 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. A north-eastern aspect is in great favour 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 cottages, 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. Generally 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 the edge, in order to permit the ingress and 
egress of the birds. Sometimes, however, the nest is supported on a kind of 
solid pedestal, composed also of mud, and often containing nearly as much 
material as would have made an ordinary nest. These pedestals are generally 
constructed in spots where the Martin finds that her nest does not obtain sufficient 
support from the wall. 
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