*i4 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
and in Come countries efteemed a great delicacy. 
They arrive in England, and migrate from it 
about the fame time as the Martin. They have 
been feen in fome parts of France during the win¬ 
ter months, but in very fmall numbers, fo as not 
to juftify any general inference ; and as they have 
refources in refpeef of food which the Martins 
have not, as mentioned before, it is eafy to con¬ 
ceive the probability of fome accidental ftraggler 
furviving the winter. 
Mr. White mentions, that they build in fcafFoId 
holes, in a (table at Bifliop-Waltham, but that 
this wall is in a retired, and fequeftered inclofure, 
and faces a large and beautiful lake. He makes 
the following obfervations. 
Many holes, of different depths, made by the 
Sand Martin, are found unfinilhed at the end of 
lummer: perhaps the birds in thofe places may 
have met with ft rat a too hard and felid for their 
tender bills, or the foil may have been loofe, and 
mouldering, and have fallen in, for it is fcarcely 
conceived tbatthefe are provided for the fucceeding 
year. After fome years they forfake their former ' 
holes, which may have become foul and offenftve 
from long ufe ; and perhaps untenable, from their 
abounding with fleas, which have been feen fwarm- 
ing at the mouths of their holes, like bees on the 
{fools of their hives. 
The 
