. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE HOUSE MARTIN. m midday seems to dry the mud so rapidly that it cannot be rightly kneaded together. I'he mouths, or "spouts," of these nests vary from eight to ten inches in length, and point indifferently in all directions. The diameter of the widest portion of the nest is very variable, and ranges between four and seven inches. The exterior of the nests is as rough as that of the common swallow of England, but the interior is comparatively smooth, and is lined with feathers and fine grass. The eggs are generally four or five in number, an
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE HOUSE MARTIN. m midday seems to dry the mud so rapidly that it cannot be rightly kneaded together. I'he mouths, or "spouts," of these nests vary from eight to ten inches in length, and point indifferently in all directions. The diameter of the widest portion of the nest is very variable, and ranges between four and seven inches. The exterior of the nests is as rough as that of the common swallow of England, but the interior is comparatively smooth, and is lined with feathers and fine grass. The eggs are generally four or five in number, and the bird rears two broods in the course of the year. The pretty little Sand Martin is, in spite of its sober plumage and diminutive form, a very interesting bird, and one which adds much to the liveliness of any spot where it may take up its abode. In size it is less than any other British Hirundinida, being less than five inches in total length. The colour of this bird is very simple, the general tint of the entire upper surface of the head and body being a soft brown,. HOUSE MARTIN.—(Chdidon urbica.) relieved from too great uniformity by the sooty black quill feathers of the •wings and tail. The under surface is pure white, with the exception of a band of brown across the upper part of the chest. The young bird possesses a lighter plumage than the adult, owing to the yellowish white tips of the back, tertiaries, and upper coverts. The beak is dark brown, and the eyes hazel. Although its little beak and slender claws would seem at first sight to be utterly inadequate for the performance of miner's work, the Sand Martin is in its way as good a tunnel driver as the mole or the rat, and can manage to dig a burrow of considerable depth. The soil which it most loves is light sandstone, because the labour which is expended in the tunnelling is very little more than that which would be required for softer soils, and the sides of its burrow are sufficiently firm to escape the li
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
