2^8 BRITISH BIRDS. 
THE SAND MARTIN. 
BANK MARTIN, OR SAND SWALLOW. 
(Hi r undo riparia, Lin . — V Hirondelle de rivage , Buff.) 
Length about four inches and three quarters: 
The bill is of a dark horn colour ; the head, neck, 
breaft, and back are of a moufe colour ; over each 
eye there is a light ftreak ; the throat and fore 
part of the neck are white, as are alfo the belly 
and vent ; the wings and tail are brown ; the legs 
are dark brown, and are furnifhed with feathers 
behind, which reach as far as the toes. 
This is the fmalleft of all our Swallows, as well 
as the leaft numerous of them : It frequents the 
fteep fandy banks in the neighbourhood of rivers, 
in the fides of which it makes deep holes, and pla- 
ces the neft at the end ; it is carelefsly conftru£t- 
ed of flraw, dry grafs, and feathers ; the female 
lays five or fix white eggs, almofl; tranfparent, and 
is faid to have only one brood in the year. 
