. Rural bird life : being essays on ornithology with instructions for preserving objects relating to that science . rtin is found in the neighbourhood ofsandpits, where hundreds maybe seen skimming throughthe air on never-tiring wing. Their flight, however, isnot so rapid as the true Swallow, nor is it of such apeculiar twisting nature. Like the Swallow family ingeneral, the Sand Martin delights to skim over largepools of water, occasionally touching the surface with itswings. All members of the Swallow tribe drink whenon the wing, and, judging from their motions, they do sopretty frequently.
. Rural bird life : being essays on ornithology with instructions for preserving objects relating to that science . rtin is found in the neighbourhood ofsandpits, where hundreds maybe seen skimming throughthe air on never-tiring wing. Their flight, however, isnot so rapid as the true Swallow, nor is it of such apeculiar twisting nature. Like the Swallow family ingeneral, the Sand Martin delights to skim over largepools of water, occasionally touching the surface with itswings. All members of the Swallow tribe drink whenon the wing, and, judging from their motions, they do sopretty frequently. Sand Martins are strictly gregarious,and there are few more lively scenes in bird life thana large company of these active little creatures. Theneighbouring sandbanks are pierced with their holes,many hundred pairs of birds living together. The birdsare constantly in motion, darting hither and thither,uttering their pleasing notes, and occasionally visitingtheir nests with food for their sitting mates. Let us tryto gain some little insight into their nesting habits fromthe feathered tenants of yonder MARTINS. MARTINS. 265 The Sand Martin, like all its congeners, is joined toits partner for life, and every season we find the oldnest and locality frequented by the birds. We find thatthe Sand Martins, with wonderful instinct, only choosethose portions of the bank for their purpose that aresufficiently firm to admit of tunneling. The site selected,the little creatures work away with unceasing zeal,scratching out a hole perhaps three inches in diameter,and extending some two or three feet into the solid bird also provides for drainage by making the holerise gradually until it reaches the nest ; and the holesare not always straight, and it is then with difficulty thearm of the observer can reach the nest. At the end ofthis passage the birds construct a very loose and slovenlynest of dry grass and feathers. The eggs, four or fivein number, are of the purest white,
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcoue, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirds
