. The birds of the British Isles and their eggs . Nest of House I PL 103. Nest of Swallow. HOUSE-MARTIN. 253 the cliff-top I have dropped bits of cotton-wool and watched thetwittering Martins shoot out from the nests and catch thefloating scraps to add to the nest-lining. Even on the barecliff face the bird usually builds below some overhanging rock,and on houses the nests are close under the eaves so that theymay be strengthened by attachment above (Plate 103). Theentrance is so small that the interfering Sparrow cannot invadethe sanctuary when once the nest is complete. The mud,adde
. The birds of the British Isles and their eggs . Nest of House I PL 103. Nest of Swallow. HOUSE-MARTIN. 253 the cliff-top I have dropped bits of cotton-wool and watched thetwittering Martins shoot out from the nests and catch thefloating scraps to add to the nest-lining. Even on the barecliff face the bird usually builds below some overhanging rock,and on houses the nests are close under the eaves so that theymay be strengthened by attachment above (Plate 103). Theentrance is so small that the interfering Sparrow cannot invadethe sanctuary when once the nest is complete. The mud,added in successive layers, is collected from ponds, streams orpuddles. In dry weather on the chalk hills I have seen a dozeneager Martins gathered round a puddle left by a passing-watering cart. Both birds work at construction, but before thisbegins there is much play at building. A bird will fly up and daba pellet of mud on the wall, then cling with head turned, twitter-ing invitation to its mate, who will settle alongside and bothwill twitter conversationally. Then spr
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