. The popular natural history . Zoology. 274 THE SAND MARTIN. spot in vain search after their lost homes, and fill the air with the mournful dies that tell of their sonoivs. The Swallow is widely spread over various parts of the world, being fami- liarly known throughout the whole of Europe, not excepting Norway Sweden, and the northern portions of the Continent. It is also seen m Western Alrica, and Mr. Yarrell mentions an instance where it was observed m the Island of St. Thomas, which is situated upon the equator. The martin and the swift were seen at the same place. The colour of the Swall
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 274 THE SAND MARTIN. spot in vain search after their lost homes, and fill the air with the mournful dies that tell of their sonoivs. The Swallow is widely spread over various parts of the world, being fami- liarly known throughout the whole of Europe, not excepting Norway Sweden, and the northern portions of the Continent. It is also seen m Western Alrica, and Mr. Yarrell mentions an instance where it was observed m the Island of St. Thomas, which is situated upon the equator. The martin and the swift were seen at the same place. The colour of the Swallow is very beautiful. Upon the forehead the feathers are of a light chestnut, which gives place to deep glossy steel- blue upon the upper portions of the body and wings. The primaries and secondaries are black, as are the tail feathers, with the exception of a few white patches. Ihe throat is chestnut, and a very dark-blue band crosses the upper part of the chest. The under parts are white, and the beak, legs, and toes black. The female is distinguished by the smaUer chestnut on the. SAND MARTIN.—{Cotile riparia.) forehead, the smaller tint of the feathers, and the narrowness of the dark band across the chest. Many examples of white Swallows are on record, and specimens may be seen in almost every collection of British birds. Among the most ingenious of bird architects, the Fairy Martin holds a very high place in virtue of the singular nest which it constructs. The nest of the Fairy Martin has a very close resemblance to a common oil-flask, and reminds the observer of the flask-shaped nests which are con- structed by the Pensile Oriole and similar birds, although made of harder materials. ' The Fairy Martin builds its curious house of mud and clay, which it kneads thoroughly in its beak before bringing it to the spot where it will be required. Six or seven birds work amicably at each nest, one remaining in the interior enacting the part of chief architect, while others act as
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
