56 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
south downs of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hants, and whence it is 
likely they take their final flight for the Continent. 
H. riparia , the Sand Martin. —These are the smallest of the tribe, and 
so called because their nests are always made in sand banks, such as are 
somewhat perpendicular and bound rivers, quarries, or sand-pits. They 
take to the tunnels formerly made by moles, and make a nest of withered 
grass and feathers, where they lay, hatch, and rear their young in the 
dark. The birds arrive with the house martin, join their assemblies, 
after the breeding season, and also depart with them. They are 
never seen, except when on their passage, in those parts of the country 
where there are no sand banks for them to nestle in. We have known 
these little birds in several situations, but never could ascertain whether 
they have the power of excavating holes for themselves, though we are 
rather inclined to think they have, from the great number of holes in the 
banks they frequent. They are easily distinguished from their congeners 
by their mouse-coloured plumage. 
H. apies , the black Martin or Swift.—This is the largest of the swallow 
genus which visit our country. They arrive in pairs about the first of 
May, and stay till about the tenth of August; after which day they are 
seldom seen unless their first pair of eggs have been destroyed, in which 
case they will try to rear a second brood, and which detains them some¬ 
times for another month. 
The Swift inhabits church towers, old castles, or houses having openings 
under the tiles or slates of the roofs. It makes no nest, contenting itself 
with any depression in the brickwork or masonry that will hold its two 
eggs. These birds never alight on the ground, and cannot walk, their short 
legs and small feet only enabling them to cling to the edge of their hole 
and to creep inwards. Their toes all stand so forward, that they must de¬ 
scend before the birds can use their wings, and on this account it is that, 
if on the ground or other level surface, they cannot rise in the air. No bird 
has greater power of wing than the Swift, as they can sustain themselves 
during the season they are with us for seventeen or eighteen hours daily ; 
and in their migrations, no doubt, for many more hours without taking 
rest. The velocity of their flight is no less astonishing than its endu¬ 
rance ; and hence their vulgar name. This is particularly noticeable in a 
custom they have of associating in groups towards the close of the day, 
and flying round and round their habitations, each uttering their screaming 
note of swee ree , swee ree , for an hour together. There is no beauty in these 
sounds, but they are always an accompaniment of fine weather, and are 
often the only notes a citizen hears from birds in a state of liberty. As the 
Swifts arrive in pairs* so they depart; and on these journeys generally fly 
high and very leisurely. 
