







OF BIRDS: Loy 
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. 3 
When they build their nefts againft rocks, it 
q isthought that they laft but one feafon ; but the 
~ nefts which they fix to our houfes, ferve for feve- 
tal years in fucceffion. bh 
Sometimes they complete their nel in five: oF 
fix days; for this purpofe they bring the earth in 
4 their beaks and claws, tempering it, and placing 
q it with their bills; fometimes feveral affiftin the | 
: conftruction of the fame neft. There have been 
inftances too, where fome have been feen active 
in endeavouring to deftroy the labours of others, 
and to. pull down the neft as fat as thefe built: 
it up. 
Martins do not appear in England quite fo foon 
as the Swallow, and fora little while after their firtt 
x arrival, confine themfelves to low, and marfhy 
pe 
 fituations.. They feem fo much under the influ- 
ence of climate, and to have fuch a prefentiment 
cof approaching changes in the weather, that they 
have been known to quit Lapland. the beginning 
o@ Auguft, abandoning their young, though the 
ee weather 
