OF BIRDS; 
ever, this difference, that the Martin’s neft is co¬ 
vered above, and the entrance is at a fmall hole 
in the fide ; add to this, that the Martin’s neft is 
far from neat, it is often infefted with maggots, 
fleas, and even bugs, and thefe are likewife found 
in the feathers of the birds themfelves. 
When they build their nefts againft rocks, it 
is thought that they laft but one feafon ; but the 
nefts which they fix to our houfes, ferve for feve- 
ral years in fucceffion. 
Sometimes they complete their neft in five or 
fix days; for this purpofe they bring the earth in 
their beaks and claws, tempering it, and placing 
it with their bills ; fometimes feveral affift in the 
conftrudfion of the fame neft. There have been 
inftances too, where fome have been feen aclive 
in endeavouring to deftroy the labours of others, 
and to pull down the neft as faft as thefe built 
it up. 
Martins do not appear in England quite fo foon 
as the Swallow, and for a little while after their firft 
arrival, confine themfelves to low, and marlby 
Situations. They feem fo much under the influ¬ 
ence of climate, and to have fuch a prefentiment 
of approaching changes in the weather, that they 
have been known to quit Lapland the beginning 
•f Auguft, abandoning their young, though the 
weather 
