814 THE NATURAL HISTORY 

and in 1 fome countries efteemed a great delicagy, 
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’wine 
ter months, but in very {mall numbers, fo as not 
to juttify any general inference; and as they have 
refources in refpeé&t of food which the Martins | 
have not, as mentioned before, it is eafy to cone 
ceive the probability of fome accidental ftraggler 
- furviving the winter. 
Mr. White mentions, that they build in fcaffold 
holes, in a ftable at Bifhop-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 unfinifhed at the end of 
‘fummer: perhaps the birds in thofe places may 
have met with ftrata too hard and folid for theit 
tender bills, or the foil may have been loofe, and 
mouldering, and have fallen in, for it is fcarcely 
_ conceived that thefe are provided for the fucceeding 
year. After fome years they forfake their formet 
holes, which may have become foul and offenfive 
from long ufe; and perhaps untenable, from theif 
abounding with fleas, which have been feen fwart- 
‘ing at the mouths of their holes, like bees on the 
ftcols of their hives. ; 
The 


