198 A DESCRIPTION OF 
their blood may recover its true tone and texture, after 
having been so long benumbed by the severities of the 
winter. The Martin is something less than the swallow, 
with a comparatively large head, and a wide mouth ; the 
colour a bluish black, and bill white; its legs covered with 
short white down. As this bird often builds against a per- 
pendicular wall, without any projecting ledge under, its 
utmost efforts are necessary to get the first foundation 
firmly fixed, so as to carry the superstructure safely. On 
this occasion, it not only clings with its claws, but partly 
supports itself by strongly inclining its tail against the 
wall, making that a fulcrum; and thus fixed, it plasters 
the materials into the face of the brick or stone. But that 
this work may not, while soft, incline down by its own 
weight, the provident architect has the prudence and for- 
bearance not to proceed too fast ; but by building only in 
the morning, and dedicating the rest of the day to food 
and amusement, he gives it sufficient time to dry and 
harden. By this method, in about ten days, the nest is 
formed, strong, compact, and warm, and perfectly fitted 
for all the purposes for which it is intended. But nothing 
is more common than for the house-sparrow, as soon as 
the shell is finished, to seize on it, eject the owner, and 
line it according to its own peculiar manner. The Martin 
will return for several seasons to the same nest, where 
it happens to be well sheltered and secured from the in- 
juries of the weather. They breed the latest of all our 
swallows, never being without unfledged young ones even 
so late as Michaelmas. They arrive in England with the 
first fine weather in May. 
Welcome, welcome, feathered stranger, 
Now the sun bids Nature smile, 
Safe arrived and free from danger, 
Welcome to our blooming isle. FRANKLIN. 
