OF BIRDS. 213 
Martins have not much note ; they chirp, how¬ 
ever, from May to September. 
They are didinguifhed from other birds of this 
genus, by their legs being covered with foft, 
downy feathers, to the toes. 
The SAND MARTIN. 
Is of a moufc colour ; the throat and flomach white ; the 
neck encircled with a moufe coloured ring. 
It inhabits mod parts of Europe, and frequents 
the deep banks of rivers, of fand pits, of fand rocks 
near the fea, and by the fide of (landing waters, 
becaufe their infect food abounds in fuch fitua- 
tions, and becaufe there they can with greater 
eafe, make thofe ferpentine, deep, but horizontal 
holes in which they depofit their eggs, and hatch 
their young. Tire ned of this fpecies is only a 
heap of draw and dried grafs, furnithed properly 
with feathers. 
They have more abundant means of fubfidence 
than mod of their tribe, as they not only feed 
upon infedts which they cbace with great rapidity 
and addrefs, as they hover over the fur face of the 
water, but they feed upon the larvre and chryfalids 
which conceal themfelves in the ground, and their 
young in confequence, in general, are very fat, 
■ and 
